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HARVARD UNIVERSITY 






GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES 
LIBRARY 



MUSEITM OF OOMFASATIYE ZOOLOGT 

JV'ifjCiLi. 



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MINERALS 



NEW SOUTH WALES. 



ARCHIBALD LIVERSIDGE, ' 

PEOFESSOB OP MINEKALOGY IN THE UNIVBRSITY OP SYDNEY. ASSOC. ROY. 
SCH. SONES, LONDON. LATE SCHOLAR OF CHRIST'S COLLEOE, CAHBBIDOK 



STDJIBY : TllOtUa KICHARDB, OOVERNMENT PBIKTER, PHILUP-3TREET. 
1876. 



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OORRIO-BITIDA. 



Page of Page qf 

Pamphlet. Volume. 

19 171 

20 172 

24 176 

24 176 

27 179 

36 188 

58 190 

40 192 

43 195 

46 198 

48 200 

62 204 

66 208 

60 212 



Line. For Read 
4 docomposition decomposition 

Last but one FeCo FeCos 

19 SPbaPaO,, PbCl SPbgPaOg, PbClj 

32 ... 3Pb8As208, Pb01...3Pb3As208, PbCla 

4 Mowemban Mowembah 

6 Ozo-kerite Ozokerite 

30 former following 

34 hard hand 

3 anamygdaloidal an amygdaloidal 

20 Berrada Benada 

36 doTible-sized double 

19 Staxjralite Staurolttb 

17 ft« few 

..:.. 10 Goetheite Gothite 



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THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

By Archibald Liversidoe, late Scholar of Christ's College, 
Cambridge, Professor of Mineralogy in the University of 
Sydney. 



iSead before the Royal Society of N.8.W., 9 December, 1874.] 



The title merely of the following paper was read before the Society 
on the above date, as the paper is not of a nature suitable for 
reading in its entirety, but is more suited for reference merely. 

The descriptions of the minerals are given almost entirely from 
specimens which I have either collected myself or which have 
come under my own personal observation ; and the analyses have 
in all cases been made by myself, except where otherwise stated. 
It is much to be deplored that no systematic examination of the 
minei*als and rocks of New South Wales has been undertaken 
similar to that performed in other Colonies! The amount of exact 
information which has yet been published is surprisingly small. 

Some of the localities have been taken from papers published 
by the Rev. W. B. Clarke, M.A., F.G.S., the late Mr. Stutchbury, 
who was for some time government geologist, and from some of the 
reports of the earlier explorers. 

Great difficulty was at times found in identifying certain of the 
localities, from the changes which the names of places have in 
many cases imdergone — numbers of localities I have had to reject 
altogether on this account, and some uncertain ones probably still 
remain ; but as it is my intention on the first opportunity to briilg 
this little introductory paper out in a more complete form, with, 
if possible, descriptive figures of the more remarkable specimens, 
I hope to be able to correct any mistakes which may have crept in, 
and in a paper of this kind it is almost impossible that some should 
not occur, although I have done my best to keep the number down 
to as few as possible. 



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2 THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

PART I. 

METALLIC MINERALS. 
Gold. 

Only one trae mineral species of gold has up to the present been 
found in New South Wales, and that is : — 

Native Gold. 

Cubical system. Well developed crystals are very rare and are 
never of large size, seldom exceediag ^inch in diameter, and the 
faces are usually more or less cavernous ; the most common form 
are the octohedron and rhombic dodekahedron ; single and detached 
crystals are seldom found, they are usually attached end to end, 
forming strings, wires, and branching or aborescent /orms. A 
beautiful branching tree like group of large rhombic dodekahedral 
crystals weighing some 20 oz. was formerly to be seen in the 
Australian Museum collection, but the specimen has been stolen, 
so that it is unfortunately lost to science. Occasionally elongated 
crystals of rhombic dodekahedra are met with, arranged in columnai* 
groups very similar to groups of basaltic columns. As with other 
minerals, the smaller crystals are usually the most perfect. Fili- 
form, reticulated, and spongy shapes are common; but mo)*e so are 
irregular plates, scales, and strings, which interpenetrate the matrix 
in every direction. Sometimes, as observed by Mr. C. S. Wilkinson 
at a mine near Wagga Wagga, the plates are so exceedingly thin 
that they form mere films like gold-leaf, and in this particular 
instance the films run both between and across the laminse of the 
red-coloured slate in which they occur. Then again, gold occurs 
in New South Wales, as elsewhere, so finely divided and equally 
diffused throughout the matrix as to be invisible even by the aid 
of a lens. 

As alluvial gold it occurs in more or less rounded and water- 
worn flattened grains, scales, and pebbles or nuggets. The largest 
nuggets discovered in Australia have been found in Victoria, none 
at all to compare with them in size have been in New South 
Wales. 

Examples of New South Wales Nuggets. 

No. 1. Found ia July, 1851, by a native boy, amongst a heap 
of quartz, at Meroo Creek or Louisa Creek, River Taron, 53 miles 



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THE MIKERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 3 

from Bathurst, and 29 miles from Mudgee, New South Wales. It 
was in three pieces when discovered, though generally considered 
as one mass. The aboriginal who discovered these blocks " observed 
a speck of some glittering substance upon the surface of. a block of 
the quartz, upon which he applied his tomahawk, and broke off a 
portion." One of the pieces weighed 70 lbs. avoir., and gave 
60 lbs. troy of gold ; the gross weight of the other two about 60 
lbs. each. These three pieces, weighing If cwt., contained 106 lbs. 
troy of gold, and about 1 cwt. of quartz. In the same year 
another nugget, weight 30 lbs. 6 ozs., was discovered in clay, 24 
yards from the large pieces ; and in the following year, also near 
to No. 4, there were found two nuggets, weighing 167 ozs. and 
71 ozs. 

Gross weight (troy), 106 lbs. ; 1,272 ozs. 

No. 2. A model of what is said to be the first large nugget 
found in New South Wales is to be seen in the Australian 
Museum, Sydney. Found in Ophir Creek. 

No. 3. A nugget weighing 26 ozs. was found at Bingera in 1852. 

No. 4. Found by a party of four, on 1st November, 1858, at 
Burrandong, near Orange, New South Wales, at a depth of 35 fb. ; 
when pounded with a hammer it yielded 120 lbs. of gold, for 
which .£5,000 were offered. Melted at the Sydney Mint, when it 
weighed 1,286 ozs. 8 dwts. ; after melting, 1,182 ozs. 7 dwts. ; 
loss, 8 per cent. ; fineness, 87-4 per cent. ; the standard weight of 
gold being 1,127 ozs. 6 dwts. Value, £4,389 8s. lOd. The gold 
was mixed with quartz and sulphide of iron (mundic). Assay, 
87-40 per cent, gold = 20 car. 3^ car. grs. 

Gross weight (troy), 107 lbs. 2 ozs. 8 dwts. ; 1,286 ozs. 8 dwts. 

No. 6. Found at Kiandra, Snowy River, New South Wales, 
October, 1860. 

Gross weight (troy), 33 lbs. 4 ozs. ; 400 ozs. 

No. 6. " The Brenan Nugget." Found in Meroo Creek, Turon 
Biver, New South Wales, embedded in clay; measures 21 inches 
in circumference. It was found 24 yards from No. 1. Sold in 
Sydney, 1851, for £1,156. 

Gross weight (tnJy), 30 lbs. 6 ozs. ; 364 ozs. 11 dwts. 

No. 7. Found at New Chum Hill, Kiandra, Snowy Biver, New 
South Wales, July, 1861. 

Gross weight (troy), 16 lbs. 8 ozs. ; 200 ozs. 

No. 8. Found at Kiandra, Snowy Biver, New South Wales, 
March, 1860. 

Gross weight (troy), 13 lbs. 4 ozs. ; 160 ozs. 



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4 THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALE$. 

No. 9. Found, in 1852, at Meroo Creek, Turon River, New 
South Wales, close to No. L This was called " The King of the 
waterwom Nuggets." 

Gross weight (troy), 13 lbs. 1 oz. ; 157 ozs. 

No. 10. Found in 1860, at the Tooloom Diggings, New South 
Wales ; nearly solid gold. 

Gross weight (troy), 11 lbs. 8 ozs. ; 140 ozs. 

No. 11. Found at Kiandra, Snowy River, New South Wales, 
March, 1860. 

Gross weight (troy), 7 lbs. 9 ozs. 18 dwts. ; 93 ozs. 18 dwta. 

No. 12. Found in 1852, at Louisa Creek, New South Wales; 
a solid lump of gold. 

Gross weight (troy), 6 lbs. 10 ozs. ; 82 ozs. 

No. 13. Found by two boys, in July, 1861, at Gundagai (new 
diggings). New South Wales. 

Gross weight (troy), 5 lbs. 4 ozs. 7 dwts. ; 64 ozs. 7 dwts. 

No. 14. Found in 1857, at Louisa Creek, New South Wales; 
gold and crystallized quartz. 

Gross weight (troy), 4 lbs. 2 ozs. ; 50 ozs. 

No. 15. Found at New Chum Hill, Kiandra, New South Wales, 
in July, 1861. 

Gross weight (troy), 3 lbs. 6 ozs. ; 42 ozs. 

No. 16. Found at Summer Hill Creek, New South Wales. The 
earliest nugget found in New South Wales after the gold discovery 
there by Hargraves. 13th May, 1851. 

Gross weight (troy), 1 lb. 1 oz. ; 13 ozs. 

No. 17. A nugget weighing 22 ozs. 18 dwts. 12 grains was found 
recently on " M'Guiggan's Lead," about 9 miles from Parkes; the 
metal was of dark colour and free from gangue. 

No. 18. A nugget weighing 19 ozs. 12 dwts. was fo\md early in 
1876, at the " Wapping Butcher" Mine, near Parkes. 

For the accounts of Nos. 1 and Nos. 4 to 16 I am indebted to 
Mr. Brough Smyth's Gold Fields cmd Mineral Districts of Victoria, 

In colour most of the New South Gold is usually of fairly deep 
yellow, being rather lighter than Victorian and not so light as 
much of the Southern Queensland gold, but occasionally specimens 
of very pale and of very dark gold are met with. The quantity of 
silver present greatly ajQTects the colour of the metal. 



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THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 5 

In specific gravity it varies considerably, the mean being about 
17-5. 

A specimen of ^Braidwood gold had a specific gravity of 18-28. 

Gompositian. — ^No specimens of actually pure gold have been 
met with. There is always more or less silver present, and usually 
traces of copper, iron, and other metals. 



Pbr centaok of silver, copper, and iron in New South Wales (jrold. 
Determinations made at the Sydney Mint, December, 1854. 



GoldTield: 


Mean of 

No. of 

Bpecimens. 


Silver. 


Copper and Iron. 


Tambaroora 


14 
8 
5 
1 


4-735 to 7- 64 

4- 29 to 8- 37 

3- 86 to 5-006 

5*69 


Trace to -125 

• 13 
•105 

• 03 




Turon 


Aferoo 


Mookerawa 


Ophir 


1 


5-93 


Other metals 


•01 


Adelong 


5 


5*115 to 6*665 


„ *015 to 


13 


Araluen, Major's 
Creek 


2 


5- 05 to 6* 49 






Araluen, Bell's 
Paddock 


1 


10*345 






Bingera, nugget 4 
oz. 3dwts. 


1 


12*525 






Hanging Rock, 
Oakenville Creek 


1 


6*295 






Hanging Rock, 
Cordilkra Gold 
Company, Peel 
River 


1 


9*325 






Rocky River 


1 


5- 63 







From the above average the average value was 80/6 per oz., the value of 
the standard oz. being 77/lOid. For the materials of the above table I am 
indebted to Dr. Smith. 



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THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Tablx ■bowing the proportion of gold and silver in charaoteristic flamplet 
of gold dust, from various localities in New Sonth Wales, after 
melting. By F. B. Miller, F.C.S., late Assayer in Sydney Branch of 
the Royal Mint. 



LoeaUty. 


Gold in 1,000 parts. 


SUtw in 1,000 iwrta. 


NOKTI 
Boonoo Boonoo 


854 to 659 
872 

708 to 898 
929 

934 to 962 

923 to 937 

■CRN. 

827 to 903 
929 to 933 
943 
915 
943 to 954 
918 to 928 

915 
946 to 959 

EBN. 

948 
946 to 951 
928 to 934 

971 

971 

983 


337 to 298 

121 
280 to 97 

67 
61 to 33 
66 to 63 

164 to 92 
66 to 63 

54 

82 
54 to 42 
78 to 68 

83 
63 to 37 

48 
52 to 45 
67 to 62 
27 
27 
15 


Fairfield 


Timhl^rrA .. 


Peel River 


Rocky River 


Nundle 


West 
Bathnrst 


Sofala 


Tuena 


Ophir , , r 


Tambaroora 


Turon 


Hargraves 


Windeyer 


SOUTK 

Biirranifonfl' 


Adelonflf > . 


Braidwood 


Emu Creek 


Delegate 







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THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



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THE MINERALS OP NEW SOUTH WALES: 9 

The average fineness of Victorian gold is about 23 carats, that 
is to say, it contains about 96 per cent, gold and 3^ per cent, of 
silver, with about J per cent, of other metals. Further north, in 
New South Wales, the average fineness is 22 carats 1 J grains, or 
93^ per cent, gold and 6 per cent, silver. Still further north, in 
Queensland, the average fineness is but little more than 21 carats, 
or 87*25 per cent, gold, 12 per cent, silver. Maryborough gold 
only contains 85 per cent, gold and as much as 14 per cent, silver. 
(F. B: MilleriF.aS, Trans. Boy, Soc, 2^.8. W., 1870.) 

The Palmer gold, from Northern Queensland, is much richer 
than any of the specimens from Queensland referred to above. 

Vein gold. — ^The greater portion of the gold found in situ in 
New South Wales occurs in quartz veins running through the older 
and metamorphic rocks. It is also said to occur under similar 
circumstances in true igneous rocks. Calcite is occasionally the 
vein-stuff. 

The rocks in which auriferous veins are most commonly met 
with are the various argillaceous slates, and chloritic and talcose 
schists; also in granite, as at Braidwood and Bowenfells, porphyries, 
and other 'similar metamorphic rocks ; in Eisenkiesel, at Carcoar. 
The walls and " country" of such veins are also usually auriferous 
to greater or less distances. 

As examples of "the richness of portions of gold veins, the 
following may be cited : — ^A telegram from Hill End, on February 
1st, 1873, stated that at Beyers & Holtermann's mine 100 cwt. 
of gold had been raised in 200 cwt. of stuff. From the same mine 
a slab of veinnstuff and gold weighing 6 J cwt. was exhibited which 
was estimated to contain about 2 cwt. of gold. Many other 
similarly rich blocks were also shown. 

The Mint returns for the gold from 415 tons of veinnstuff from 
this mine were 16,279-63 ozs., value £63,234 12s. 

Krohmann's Company, also at Hill End, raised 436 tons 9 cwt. 
of stuff, for which the mine returns were 24,079 ozs. 8 dwts. of 
gold, value £93,616 lis. 9d. 

Gold reefs in New South Wales have not yet been worked to 
any great depth. At Adelong they are getting good stone from a 
depth of 630 feet 

Associations. — ^The most common minerals which are found 
with vein gold are iron pyrites, which is never quite free from, 
and is sometimes exceedingly rich in gold ; iron oxide, which is for 
the most part derived from the decomposition of various pyrites ; 
mispickle, in calcite, as at Lucknow, where the mispickle contains in 
parts over 200 ozs. of gold per ton ; with mispickl^t Carcoar, and 
at Moruya with silver sulphides also ; with pyrrhoifiq^ and calcite, 
as at Hawkin's Hill; with galena, zinc, blende, magnetite, 
molybdenite, chlorite, talc, asbestos, steatite; cuprite, malachite, 



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10 THE MINERALS OF NEW 80UTH WALES. 

-and other copper ores, notably in the Wellington and Adelong 
districts ; it is reported with tin in the cliffs at Eden, and with 
native arsenic at Solferino. 

In alluvial deposits gold is associated in New South Wales with 
a very lai*ge number of minerals ; and it is remarkable that certain 
of them such as platinum, osmo-iridium, sapphire, ruby, oriental 
emerald, and diamond, have not yet been found in situ. Amongst 
the others we have tinstone, titaniferous iron, magnetic iron, 
chromic ii'on, brookite, rutile, anatase, emerald, beryl, topaz, zircon, 
hyacinth, spinelle, garnet, red and brown haematite, pyrites, binoxide 
of manganese, galena, blende, tounnaline,magnesite, and many more 
of less value. 

The alluvial deposits are of various ages, but none of them 
probably are older than late Tertiary age, and are often deeply 
buried by overflows of igneous rocks. 

Gold is found in small quantities in the tin-drifts of New 
England, especialy in the older drifts, conglomerates or "cements" as 
they are termed by the miners. 

The Rev. W. B. Clarke mentions that gold is found at the mouth 
of the Richmond River distributed in the sand and covering 
pebbles on the sea beach — a similar distribution is found in the 
sand of Shell Harbour. Other spots give similar indications, and 
some specimens of gold were brought up from the searbottom by 
the sounding apparatus of H.M.S." Herald" off Port Macquarie. 

Dhtribution, — From the fact that gold is so widely scattered 
over nearly the whole of New South Wales, it would be almost an 
endless task to attempt to enimierate the names of all the localities 
at which it has been found, it must therefore suffice to refer you 
to the names of the principal gold fields, already cited in the 
tables which show the proportion of silver contained by gold from 
various parts of the Colony, and to the mineral map published by 
the Government, which roughly shows the approximate area of the 
various gold fields. 

Amount. — The total quantity of gold as recorded in the Govern- 
ment returns from 1851 to 1874 was 8,205,232.698 ozs., and the 
value £30,536,246 10s. 6d. A model in the form of a huge 
parallelopipedon, measuring 6 ft. 6 inches square in the base and 
having a height of 11*1 feet, representing this amount of gold, is 
now at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, — the calculation 
for the above dimensions being based on the assumption that the 
average specific gravity of the gold was 17*5. 

The Discovery of Gold. — It is beyond my province to express 
any opinion upon the long disputed question as to who was the 
original discjpverer of gold in Australia ; but it may not be out of 
place to quote certain statements which have been made from time 
to time, so that each may judge for himself. 



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THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 11 

The Evening News of Sydney for 7th August, 1875, contains 
the following statement with respect to the original discovery of 
gold : — " We are in a position to show that gold was discovered, 
and we believe officially reported to the Government, upwards of 
fil'ty-two years ago, viz., on the 16th February, 1823. On that 
date, Mr. Assistant-Surveyor James M'Brian discovered the 
precious metal at a spot on the Fish River, about midway between 
O'Conneir Plains and Diamond Swamp, a little to the north of the 
old Bathurst Boad, and about 15 miles east of Bathurst. We 
have now before us an extract from Mr. M^Brian's field book, 
which book is preserved in the Surveyor General's Office. It reads 
as follows :-7-* February 16, 1823. At 81*50 to river, and marked 
gum-tree. At this place . I found numerous particles of gold in 
ike sand and in the hills convenient to the river.' It is possible 
but hardly probable that other persons may have discovered gold 
before that date, and that owing to the then peculiar social con- 
dition of the Colony, arising from the presence of a large prison 
population, it was thought best to suppress the knowledge of the 
fact." 

It is stated that Count Strzelecki found gold, associated with 
pyrites, in 1839, in the Vale of Clwydd. 

With reference to the most important part which the Bev. W. B. 
Clarke played in the discovery of gold in Australia, I cannot do 
better than quote the words of one of England's most eminent 
geologists. 

Professor Geikie, in his " Life of Murchison," says : — " Count 
Strzelecki appears to have been the first to ascertain the actual 
existence of gold in Australia ; but, at the request of the Colonial 
authorities, the discovery was closely kept secret. The first 
explorer who proclaimed the probable auriferous veins of Australia on 
true scientific grounds, that is, by obtaining gold in situ and tracing 
the parent rocks through the country, was the Rev. W. B. Clarke, 
M.A., F.G.S., who originally a clergyman in England has spent a 
long and laborious life in working out the geological structure of 
his adopted country. New South Wales. He found gold in 1841, 
and exhibited it to numerous members of the Legislature, declaring 
at the same time his belief in its abundance. While therefore 
geologists in Europe were guessing, he, having actually found the 
precious metal, was tracing its occurrence far and near on the 
ground." 

In 1844, Sir Bod. Murchison pointed out the singularity of 
the Blue Mountain Chain of Australia (the Cordillera) to that of the 
Ural, and predicted the occurrence of gold ; this seems to have 
turned out a happy guess, but it cannot be wholly considered as a 
scientific declaration. His prognostications, 1844-6-7 (appear) 
however, to have been the first published. 



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12 THE MINERALS OP NEW SOUTH WALES. 

On June 23rd, 1875, some articles and lettera referring to the 
discovery of gold appeared in the Parkes Gazette, in which it is 
stated that Mr. Jolm Phillips announced the discovery of gold in 
1847. A letter, dated from Jermyn-street, 1 6th July, 1 855, from Sir 
Rod. Murchison to Sir Chas. Hotham, is cited, which states that 
" Mr. Phillips is the person who first announced to me that he had 
detected it (gold) in your government (1847). I so stated the 
fact in my letter of 1848 to the Colonial Secretary, Lord Grey, 
when I urged upon H. M. Government to take the initiative in 
developing the auriferous resources of the region." 

To Mr. Hargraves in 1851 was reserved the satisfaction of 
showing that gold existed in great quantities in various parts of 
the Colony and how it could be readily obtained from alluvial 
deposits by means of the cradle. 



Silver. 

Native Silver. 

Native silver does not appear to have been found in situ in 
New South Wales. 

The Rev. W. B. Clarke mentions in his " Southern Gold 
Fields," that silver has been met with in the Southern Districts in 
two or three places in the form of small fragments and arborescent 
crystals. The same author mentions finding a thin plate of flexible 
silver having a sp. gr. of 10. 

Strzelecki found traces of silver in the western country in 1839. 

Silver glance. 

Chem. comp.: Sulphide of silver = AgjS. Silver, 87*1 ; S, 12*9 = 
100. Cubical system. 

This ore has been found with iron pyrites in quartz, also in lime- 
stone on the Clarence River, and on the Manning River. At two 
or three places near Bathurst, at Copper Hill on the western side, 
and at Brownlea; on the Page and Isis Rivers; at Brunaby 
Creek, county Argyle; at Broulee, Moruya, with cobalt, zinc, 
and iron ; Teesdale, Co. Bathurst ; Queanbeyan River, Burra 
Creek, Yass River ; Buckinbah ; Tacking Point, Co. Macquarie ; 
Borrowa Creek ; Crookwell River ; with gold, lead, and zinc at 
Gulgong ; with carbonate of lead at Peelwood ; with galena and 
iron pyrites at Shellmalleer ; on the Molonglo River, near junction 
with the Murrumbidgee, and at junction of Murrumbidgee Creek 
with Mountain Creek. In nearly all cases the silver sulphide 
occurs mixed more or less intimately with galena, so that properly 
it should usually be. termed argentiferous galena. 



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the minerals op new south wales. 13 

Antimonial Silver Ore. 

Containing arsenic, at Moiniya. (See specimen in the Australian 
Museum.) 

Flatmum. 

Native Platinum. 

Reported to occur with gold in the Shoalhaven River, and in 
the Ophir gold district — in the form of small grains, Bendemeer. 

Osmium Iridium. 

Osmo-iridium. 

This compound of osmium and iridium is very commonly met 
with in the auriferous and other drifts of New South Wjdes in 
the form of minute grains and scales. 

I have observed it in the gem-sand at Bingera, Mudgee, Bathurst, 
and other places. 

Its presence in alluvial gold is occasionally a source of trouble 
at the Mint, for minute grains are often mechanically enclosed by 
the gold after melting, which by their hardness speedily destroy 
the dies duiing the operation of coining. 

Kercury. 

Native .Merbury. 

In the Mookerawa Creek and in Great Waterhole at Ophir, men- 
tioned by Stutchbuiy, and he states that mercury had never been 
used on that creek. 

Cinnabar. 

Chemical composition : Mercury, sulphide = HgS. Found on 
the Cudgegong River in an argillaceous matrix, and in alluvial 
deposits associated with gold, gems, and other similarly occurring 
minerals, in the form of small rounded masses of a brilliant red 
colour. Reported to occur also at Moruya. 

Copper. 

Native Copper. 

Cubical system. Crystallized native copper is by no means rare, 
but large and well developed crystals as elsewhere are uncommon. 
It is met with massive, in plates, threads, wires, and arborescent 
forms, the latter being usually built up of elongated rhombic 
dodekahedra. 



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14 THB MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

I have been unable to find any analysis of New South Wales 
native copper, but it probably contains the usual small quantities 
of silver, lead, bismuth, and other metals. 

In nearly all cases it is found in association with cuprite, 
malachite, and other oxidized copper ores, as at Carcoar, the 
Canobolas, Wellington, Mitchell's Creek, Bathurst, Pink's Creek, 
Bell River, Peel Kiver, Manilla, Bingera, Cobar. It occurs in 
smaragdite on Molong Creek, at Peelwood with lead ores. The 
late Mr. Stutchbury reports that at Kelloshiels the well-water was 
found to be so impregnated with copper as to be unfit for domestic 
purposes. 

Cuprite. 

Chem. comp. : Copper suboxide = CujO. Copper, 88*8 oxygen, 
11-2 = 100. 

Usually found massive, but occasionally well crystallized, in 
cubes and octohedra, which, however, are seldom more than \ 
inch in diameter. 

Ghalcotrichite, or Plush Copper : The variety crystallized in capil- 
lary crystals, met with at the Coombing Mine near Carcoar. The 
best crystals which I have seen have come from the Cobar Mine. 

This mineral is usually associated with the other oxidized coppw 
ores, such as malachite and chessylite. ^ 

It is abundant at Cobar, both massive and ciystallized; Clarence 
River, Cowra, JBathurst district, Mitchell's Creek, Wiseman's 
Creek, Carcoar, Icely, Burrowa, Molong ; Manilla, with grey sul- 
phide or redruthite; Bungonia, Yass; Peelwood, Mdth tenorite; 
Bingera. 

Tekorite. — Melaconite. 

Or Black Oxide. — Chem. comp. : Copper oxide = CuO. Copper, 
79-86; oxygen, 20-16 = 100. 

Usually in the form of a black powder, massive, or sporadic, i.e,y 
disseminated in nests. Usually found associated Mdth other 
oxidized copper ores, as at Carcoar, Wellington, Icely, Peelwood, 
Burrowa. 

Malachite. 

Green Carbonate of Copper. — Chem. composition: Hydrous 
Copper Carbonate = CU2CO3 + HjO. CuO, 71*9; carbonic acid, 
19-9 ; water, 8*2 = 100. Metallic copper, 57-6. 

Oblique system. Colour from pale emerald to deep green. Occurs 
massive, also mammillated and botryoidal with fibrous concentric 
structure, the various layers often possessing different shades of 
colour and forming a most beautiful and valuable stone for orna- 
mental and inlaying purposes. Crystals are occasionally met with, 
and sometimes of large size ; those from the Cobar Mines are par- 
ticularly beautiful. The silky lustre is often very remarkable, the 
capillary crystals sometimes being several inches long. 



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THE MINEBALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 16 

. It is found in most of the surface workings of New South 
Wales copper mines, as in the Bathurst district with chlorite, 
vitreous, yellow, and other copper ores ; at Cambalong earthy and 
fibrous malachite is associated with barytes or heavy spar, and 
with yellow and peacock ore ; at Cobar, with steatite ; Mitchell's 
Creek, Wellington, mixed with other surface ores, and often con- 
taining large quantities of gold and -silver ; Roedy Creek, Icely, 
Peelwood, Yass, Bingera, and other places. 

Chessylitk. 

Azurite, or Blue carbonate of copper. 

Chem. comp. : Hydrous copper carbonate. 2 CuCOj + CuHjO,. 
Copper oxide, 69*2; carbonic acid, 25*6; water, 5-2 = 100. 
Oblique sjrstem. Colour from azure to indigo blue, translucent 
to opaque. 

Found massive and crystallized. The best specimens of the latter 
come from the Cobar Mines. They often assume a radiated concre- 
tionary form, with the terminal planes of the crystals studding the 
surface of the balls in the form of small projections. These con- 
cretions vary from almost imperceptible points up to balls several 
inches in diameter, and as they often occur diffused through a 
pale grey or green coloured steatitic clay they present an extremely 
pretty appearance ; at other times the crystals ai-e set off by a 
dazzling white felspathic clay. Well developed crystals are also 
found lining vuggy cavities. 

At Cobar chessylite is associated with atacamite in addition to 
the other more commonly occurring ores. 

At Woolgarloo chessylite occurs with native copper, cuprite, and 
malachite in pink and white fluor spar. This mixture has at 
times a very pretty effect, from the manner in which the copper 
minerals are diffused through the cracks and reticulating cavities 
in the fluor spar. Something of the same sort of thing is to be 
seen in the fluor spar from South Wiseman's Creek. 

Amongst other localities for chessylite are Inverell, in quartz 
veins ; Bathurst, Peelwood, Icely, and Ophir. 

Atacamite. 

Chem. composition : Hydrous oxychloride copper = SCuHaO, + 
CuCl. Copper oxide, 53*6 ; copper chloride, 30*2^ water, 16-2 = 
100. Khombic system. Dark green in colour. 

Occurs in the Cobar and Cowra copper mines. 

Chryscolla. 

Chemical composition: Hydrous copper silicate « CuSiO, 4- 
2H2O. Copper oxide, 45*3; silica, 34-2; water, 20*5 = 100. 
Amorphous. In colour, dark-green. 

Reported to occur in a matrix of semi-opal at the Coombing 
Copper Mine, 2 miles frx>m Carcoar. Also occurs at Cobar. 



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16 the minerals op new south wales. 

Phosphocalcite. 

jPseudomalachite, — Chem. Comp : Hydrous copper phosphate 
= Cu5P20io + 3B[.,0. Copper oxide, 670 ; phosphoric acid, 23-9 ; 
water, 9*1 = 100. Rhombic system. Colour, dark'-green. 

Coombing Copper Mine. 

Abseniate of Copper. 

Mentioned as occuning in a quartz vein on the Cox River, but 
it is not stated whether the mineral was condurrite, olivenite, or 
one of the other arseniates. 



The next group of copper ores comprises the various Sulphur 
Compounds of Copper. 

Redruthite. 

Erubescite, vitreous copper ore, copper glanpe. 

Chem. comp : Copper disulphide = CugS. Copper, 79*8 ; sulphur, 
20-2 = 100. Rhombic system. 

I have only seen this mineral in the massive state, but it is 
found crystallized in South Australia. It is of a lead-grey colour, 
soft, and leaves a shining streak. 

Found at Cobar ; Manilla waters, near Bowral ; near the Wel- 
lington Caves, with blue and green carbonates in a quartzose vein- 
stuff ; also at Wellbank, near Wellington ; at Cardiangullong 
Creek, with iron pyrites ; at Bathurst, Kroombit, Icely, Carcoar. 

Bornite. 

Purple ore, Buntkupfererz. 

Chem. comp : = (Cuj Fe) Sj. Varies considerably. 
Copper, 56 to 70 ; iron, 6 to 17 ; sulphur, 21 to 26. 
Cubical system ; colour, copper red, purple to brown ; massive ; 
fracture, even to small conchoidal ; streak blackish-grey, shining. 
Found at Cobar ; Bingera ; Wellbank, Wellington District. 

Fahlerz. 

Grey Copper Ore. Tetrahedrite. 

Chem. comp. : 4CuS + SbjSg but variable. 

Part of the copper often replaced by iron, zinc, silver (up to 
30 percent.), mercury, or cobalt ; and the antimony partly replaced 
by arsenic and occasionally bismuth. 

Cubical system, usually in tetrahedral forms — Whence one of *its 
synonyms ; colour, grey ; soft, cuts with shining streak. 

Occurs on the west side of Copper Hill, near Molong. 



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THE MINERALS OP NEW SOUTH WALES. 17 

Chalcopyrites. 

Copper pyrites. Chem. Gomp. : Copper-iron sulphide Cuj S, 
Fea S3. Copper, 34*6; iron, 30-5; sulphur 34-9 = 100. Tetra- 
gonal system ; henuhedral forms. A very abundant ore. 

Usually occurs massive ; occasionally crystals are met "with, but 
they are generally but imperfectly developed. Colour, usually brass 
yellow. Blister ore is more of a bronze colour, and occurs in 
mammillated and botryoidal forms. The tarnished variety of copper 
pyrites, known as peacock ore from the splendid colours which it 
acquires, is very common. 

It occurs in nearly all the metalliferous districts in the Colony : 
at Cobar, Bingera, Elsmore, Clarence, Wiseman's Creek ; Welling- 
ton and Bathurst districts, with zinc blende, steatite, quartz, 
and asbestos; Wallabadah, Carcoar, Cargo, Ophir, Peelwood, 
Tuena, Bungonia ; at Currowang, on the Shoalhaven ; Adelong, 
with gold ; at Lob's Hole on the Tumut ; Kiandra. 

JBeU-metal Ore — Cobar. 

DOMEYKITE. 

Arsenical Copper Sulphide. Chem. Comp. : Copper arsenide, 
Cu^. Copper, 71*7; arsenic, 38-3 = 100. 

Amorphous. Occurs in the Bathurst District with yellow sulphide 
of copper. 

Antimonial Copper Ore. 
Said to occur at Eden, Twofold Bay. 



Dioptase, olivenite, liebethenite, boumonite, and other beautiful 
copper minerals have apparently yet to be found. 

Iron. 

Native Iron. 

Out of a large number of specimens of so called native iron 
which have come before me from time to time, not one was entitled 
to be so called ; they had all without exception been derived from 
iron and steel tools. 

Native iron, apart from that derived from meteorites, however, 
probably does occur in the Colony, and it is most likely to be 
found in or near to igneous rocks, e.g., melted globules of native 
iron have been met with at Ballaarat in Victoria in connection with 
basalt. 



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18 THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

Magnetite. 

Magnetic Iron Ore. Chem. Comp. : Iron oxide = Foj O4. Iron, 
72-4 ; oxygen, 27*6 = 100. Cubical system. 

This is the richest of all the ores of iron, and when perfectly 
pure it only contains rather more than 72 per cent, of metallic iron; 
hence the absurdity of the statement so commonly made that the 
iron ores on a certain property contain over 90 percent, of metal will 
be at once apparent ; and moreover, it is a very rare thing indeed 
for large masses of any ore to be quite pure, therefore, instead of 
the amount of metal in the vaunted mineral even approaching to 
that quantity it falls far below it, and most probably it is much 
nearer 60 than 90 per cent. 

It is found in the Colony both massive and crystallized in 
octohedra, which are usually small. In structure it varies, being 
compact, granular or lamellar. 

Large deposits of magnetite exist at Wallerawang; Mount 
Lambie, in a chloritic matrix ; Mount Wingen ; Solferino in quartz 
veins ; Grafton with copper ores ; on the Clarence and the Shoal- 
haven. 

A lamellar magnetite of good quality occurs in quartz at Car- 
coar associated with iridescent botryoidal brown haematite, and at 
Combullanarang with copper ores. 

It is also found at Inverary Quarry, where Stutchbury mentions 
that it occurs in the pisolitic form, associated with a black non-mag- 
netic ore in rounded particles the size of peas, and cemented together 
by a variety of crystallized minerals. Crystallized and compact 
magnetite occurs near the limestone quarries on Belubula Creek. 
Rounded and polished nodules of magnetic iron ore occur in the 
Lachlan River with ilmenite ; it is also found in nearly all the 
gold and gem bearing drifts and deposits. 

HLffiMATiTE. — Specular Iron. 

Red Haematite, Specular Iron. Chem. comp. : Iron oxide Foj O3. 
Iron, 70; oxygen, 30 = 100. 

Hexagonal system, in rhombohedral forms. Usually massive, 
platy, or micaceous. Well-formed crystals are almost unknown 
here. Specular iron ore occurs in a coarse-grained granite at Sum- 
mer's Hill, near Bathurst, and at Mount Lambie ; also at Bookham 
and Yass, with micaceous and massive red haematite ; micaceous 
haematite also occurs at Pine Bone Creek, with titaniferous iron. 

Of the haematite near Carcoar, the late Mr. Stutchbury speaks 
as follows : — " In a gully or creek called the Waterfall Creek, 
running into the Cardiangullong Creek, and at the extremity of a 
mountain spur known as the Rocky Ridge, there is an immense 
mass of oxydulous iron (haematite) formiug in one solid mass a 
precipitous waterfall of about 60 feet m height ; in this mass of 



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THE MINERALS OF NEW S0X7TH WALES. 19 

iron, especially in the joints, there are brilliant crystals of iron 
pyrites, with a small quantity of yellow copper ore and traces of 
blue and green carbonate of copper. Here also is found iron 
sulphate, from the docomposition of the pyrites." 

In the cliffs at Shepherd's Hill, Newcastle, there are trunks of 
trees converted into red hsematite. 

Large deposits of massive and somewhat ochry red hsematite 
occur at Brisbane Water, also over large areas in the County of 
Argyle. This same mineral enters largely also into the composi- 
tion of the so-called "red hills" occurring in the New England 
tin districts and other parts. A silicious red hsematite is tdso 
common in the Hawkesbury sandstone, about Sydney, and else- 
where, as veins and scattered nodules. 

One of these nodules which I examined contained 28*0 per 
cent, of metallic iron, and the compact red hsematite from Nattai 
gave me 45 per cent. 

GrOETHiTE. — Brown Hsematite. 

Chem. comp. : Hydrated sesquioxide of Iron = FeaOs,3H20. 
Iron sesqtiioxide, 89*9 ; water, lO'l = 100. 

Grenerally massive, or with fibrous radiate structure, minute 
velvety crystals are sometimes met with ; also scaly, mammillated, 
pisolitic, reniform, and stalactitic. 

Externally the colour is often jet-black with high lustre ; within 
yellow, yellowish-brown, and full-brown. Streak, brown. 

Many of the nodules of brown hsematite contain cavities and 
hollows holding a soft black substance like binoxide of manganese, 
which hardens on exposure. 

Very large and extensive irregular deposits and pockets of brown 
hsematite occur at Wallerawang, Jamberoo, Nattai, Port Hacking, 
the Murrumbidgee, Mt. Tellula, and many other places, such as 
between Mt. Tomah and Mt. King George. In fact this mineral 
is one of the most widely diffused. 

A specimen of Brown Hsematite, from Wallerawang, yielded 
the following results on analysis : — 

Water, hygroscopic 1*28 

„ combined 12*04 

Silica and insoluble matter. . . 12*19 

Sesquioxide of iron 73 -60 = 51 '2 percent, metallic iron. 

Phosphorus '12 

Sulphur -06 

Undetermined '71 



100-00 



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20 THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

LiMONITE. ' 

A variety of brown haematite. Large stalactites are formed by 
the ferruginous springs at Berrima, Nattai, and elsewhere, and the 
deposits of brown iron from these often contain beautiful impressions 
of leaves and other objects ; also in botryoidal and mammillated 
forms. 

Extensive deposits of what are termed Clay Band iron ores occur 
interbedded with the coal measures. These form an earthy variety 
of browQ haematite; yet they are often very rich, and as they 
occur in immense quantities in close association with coal, they 
form a most valuable source of iron. 

A specimen from Wallerawang yielded the following results : — 

Water, hygroscopic 128 

„ combined 3*54 

Silica and insoluble matter. . . 4*60 

Sesquioxide of iron 80 -00 = 66 per cent, metallic iron. 

Phosphorus *49 

Sulphur •!! 

Undetermined constituents. . 9*98 



100-00 



Specimens from two other seams in the same locality yielded 
49*28 and 53*31 per cent, of metallic iron respectively. 

Similar clay bands occur at Jamberoo ; in the Buttar Banges^ 
near to East Maitland ; at Mount Wingen, and elsewhere. 

JPisolitic Iron Ore — Is another of the less pure forms of Haematite. 

Large superficial deposits of pisolitic and brecciated iron ore, 
red and brown, occur near Bungonia and "Windellama Creek, and 
overlie the slate more or less continuously between Bungonia, 
Jacqua Creek (with limestone), Dog Trap, and Spring Creeks, 
forming what are known as the " Made Hills." 

The " Made Hills" which lie between the Macintyre Eiver and 
Cope's Creek are composed of the same material. 

A pea-iron ore occurs in the coal at Nattai, and near Bungonia 
there is an auriferous argillaceous iron ore. At the Boro Creek, 
County of Argyle, there is a botryoidal pisolitic ore. 

The same variety occurs at Brisbane Water. 

Bed and Tellow Ochres — ^Are closely allied to the above Haema- 
tite iron ores, and are usually found associated with them. 

Spathic Iron Ore. — Chalybite. 

Siderite, Sphoerosiderite. — Hexagonal system, rhombohedral 
forms. 

Chem. Comp : Iron carbonate =» FeCO. Iron oxide, 62*1 ; 
Carbonic acid, 37*9. 



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THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 21 

Occurs in minute crystals at Gulgong. It is also found at New- 
stead Mine, New England, with arragonite ; in basalt, at Jordan's 
Hill, Cudgegong River. 

Thick bands of grey-coloured impure carbonate of iron, some of 
which contain about 10 per cent, of metallic iron occur in the coal 
measures at Jamberoo. 

Chrome Iron. — Chromite. 

Chem. Comp. : Iron chromate = FeCrO*. Iron oxide, 32*0 ; 
chromic acid, 68*0 = 100. 

Cubical system: Usually occurs massive, with a granular or 
lammellar structure. Black in colour, and in small crystals and 
water-worn grains in gold and gem bearing sands. 

In the Gwydir River and many of its tributaries, in Nundle 
Creek, Two-mile Creek, the Horton River, Hanging Rock, at Stony 
Batta with serpentine, Bingera, Reedy, Gundamulda, Kennedy's, 
and Angular Creeks; also at Mudgee, the Murrumbidgee River, and 
near Yass. 

Scorodite. 

Chem. Comp. : An arseniate of iron. Arsenic acid, 49*8 ; 
sesquioxide of iron, 34*7 ; water, 15*5 = 100. 

Rhombic system : with iron pyrites, Cadell's Reef, Mudgee Road, 
9 miles south-east of Mudgee. 

Pharmacosiderite. 

Chem. Comp. : Arseniate of Iron. Arsenic acid, 39*8. ; phos- 
phoric acid, 2*5 ; sesquioxide of iron, 40*6 ; water, 17*1 = 100. 

Cubical system. — Found crystallized in small oHve-green cubes, 
Subtranslucent. 

IjOcaHty. — ^To the east of Bungonia. 

Titaniperous Iron. 

Chem. Comp. : Iron and titanium. 

There are several different kinds of titaniferous iron, distinguished 
by their physical properties and by the amounts of titanic acid 
which they contain — such as ilmenite, iserine, menaccanite, &c. 
Until those found in New South Wales have been examined, it will 
it be as well, perhaps, to class them all under the general head of 
titaniferous iron. 

Found usually with alluvial gold, about Ophir, Bathurst, Mudgee, 
Bingera, and Uralla in the diamond drifts. Large rolled masses 
occur at Uralla. Ilmenite, menaccanite, nigrine, and iserine are said 
to occur with gold, garnets, and chrysolites in the Two-mile Flat 
Creek Cudgegong River, and in the Lachlan with magnetite. 



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22 THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

Iron Pyrites. 

Chem. comp.:, FeS,. Sulphur 63-3; iron 46-7 = 100. Crys- 
tallizes in the cubical system. Occurs massive and crystallized, 
the most common forms being the cube and the pentagonal 
dodekahedron. "Well-formed cubes partially decomposed into brown 
hsematite are common in many deposits with gold, and are known 
to the miners by the name of " devil's dice." All specimens of 
pyrites which I have examined have without exception contained 
traces of gold, and in some cases large amounts. 

As is fbimd to be the case in other parts of the world, this 
mineral is almost universally diffused throughout the metalliferous 
districts of the Colony, and is found in rocks of all ages. 

"Well-formed crystals are found in the Manilla and Namoi 
Elvers. In the tin district of New England it is very common — 
Bathurst district ; at Gulgong, well-formed pentagonal dodecahedra 
are common in the auriferous quartz veins. Very abimdant in the 
Adelong reefs ; the Carcoar District ; at Kiandra, crystallized in 
cubes with molybdenite. 

Ma/rcadte, — ^Rhombic pyrites. Chem. comp. : Iron sulphide = 
FeSj. Same as the former, of which it is an allotropic form. 

Fluted rhombic crystals occur with arsenical and common pyrites 
(auriferous) to the south of Reedy Creek, Shoalhaven River ; also 
at Carcoar, with galena and other minerals. 

Pyrrhotine. 

Magnetic pyrites. Chem. comp. : ForSg. Sulphur 39*6 ; iron 
60-5 = 100. 

Hexagonal system. 

More of a copper-colour than the other pyrites, slightly magnetic, 
and crystallizes in six-sided forms. 

It occurs with gold and calcite at Hawkins Hill. 

Nickel 

Kupfernigeel. — Copper-nickel. 

Chem. Comp. : Nickel arsenide = NiAs., Ni = 44*1 : As =* 55*9 = 
100. 

Hexagonal system : Massive. Of a copper-red colour, in parts 
incrusted with pale green nickel hydrate. Reported from near 
Bathurst. 

Plakodine. 

Arsenical nickel : NiAs., Nickel = 60 per cent. 

Found by the Rev. W. B. Clarke, on the Peel River, and to the 
south-west of Weare's Creek. Yellowish white in colour, highly 
magnetic. Sp. gr. = 8 ; H. = 6*5 ; and dissolving readily in nitric 
add. 



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THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 23 

Manganese. 

The ores of manganese do not appear to have been discovered 
in any great abundance in New South Wales. 

Wad. 

An impure oxide of manganese. 

At Long Gully, near Bungonia, it is met with having a more or 
less botryoidal form and platy structure ; of a black colour, soft 
with a black shiTiing streak ; in association with quartz, both as 
small veins running through the quartz and as an external coating 
or incrustation. A specimen from this locality was found to con- 
tain 1*57 per cent, of cobalt, and 0*36 per cent, of nickel (Dr. 
Thomson.) 

It is abundant in the diamond drift near Mudgee, both as a 
cement and incrustation ; often dendritic in outline. The incrusta- 
tion on many of the pebbles is evidently quite recent. 

It is very common as dendritic markings on rocks in many parts 
of the Colony. 

It is foimd to the north of Cotumba, loose on the ground ; also 
at Orange. 

A pecidiar form of wad is found in cavities in the basalt at 
Hill End ; this variety is very soft and porous, being composed of 
minute scales arranged loosely together in a concentric manner — in 
fact, having a structure similar to that of wood ; externally it has 
somewhat a frothy appearance, with a metallic lustre ; so soft that 
it blackens the fingers, and will hardly bear handling without 
crushing. 

KUPFERMANGANEBZ. 

Cuprous manganese. Chem. comp. : An impure oxide of 
manganese, containing a few per cent, of black oxide of copper 
and oxide of cobalt. 

Found in the Coombing Copper Mine, with native copper, cuprite, 
copper carbonates, and sulphides. 

Zinc« 

Zinc Bleih^e. 

Chem. comp. : Zinc sulphide = ZnS. Found massive, and crys- 
tallized ID small henuhedral forms belonging to the cubical system. 
Many of the crystals have beautiful bronze and purple metallic 
tints. 

With tin, gold, manganese, copper pyrites, galena, and other 
minerals, on Major's Creek, near Bungonia. 

With gold, iron, copper pyrites, and asbestos^ in a quartz vein, 
Wiseman's Creek, near Bathurst. Orange 



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24 THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

Native Lead. 

The Rev. W. B. Clarke more than once mentions having found 
native lead on the Peel River and elsewhere. 

Minium, or Native Red Lead. 
Chem. comp.: Lead oxide ^PbsOi. Lead, 90*66; oxygen, 
9*74 = 100. Occurs with cerussite at Peelwood, near Tuena. 

Cebussite. 

Chem. comp.: Lead carbonate = PbCOs. Lead oxide, 83*5; 
carbonic acid, 16*5 = 100. Occurs massive and in large prismatic 
crystals at Peelwood Mine ; on the exterior they are often coloured 
red by a ferruginous clay. Also found at Tuena in a red clay. 
At Solferino. 

Anqlesite. 

Chem. comp. : Lead sulphate = PbS04. Lead oxide, 73*6; sul- 
phuric acid, 36-4= 100. Said to have been found with galena on 
the Abercrombie River. 

Pyromorphite. 

Chem. comp.: Lead phosphate = 3Pb3P208, PbCl. Li round 
numbers, lead oxide, 75-0 ; phosphoric acid, 16*0 ; lead chloride, 
10 = 100. Small quantities of calcium fluoride and calciiim 
phosphate are usually present. 

At Grenfell, it is found as a bright green-coloured powder con- 
taining minute hexagonal prisms ; it is also found of the same 
colour associated with galena and mimetite in a vein traversing 
clay slate, near Bathurst. Another specimen from Bathurst was of 
a pale greyish-brown colour, with a waxy lustre, and mammillated 
surface, upon which small crystals of chessylite were seated. 

It also occurs on the Sugar-loaf Hill, near Wellington ; also on 
Mitchell's Creek. 

Mimetite. — Kampylite. 

Chem. comp. : Lead arseniate = 3Pb8As20H, PbCl. In this mineral 
the phosphoric is replaced by arsenic acid. Of a brown colour, and 
in much-curved or barrel-diaped hexagonal prisms. With pyro- 
morphite at Sugar-loaf Hill, Wellington. 

Wulfenite. 

Chem. comp. : Lead molybdate = PbM04. Lead oxide, 6 15; 
molybdic acid, 38*5 = 100. Mentioned as occurring on a spur of 
Mount Murulla, Eangdon's Ponds, and near Mount Wingen. 
Structure, radiate and waterwom. The Rev. W. B. Clarke also 
records finding drifted molybdate of lead^ on the North Shore; 



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THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 25 

Galena. 

Chem. comp.: Lead sulphide = PbS. Lead, 86*6 ; sulphur, 13'4 
= 100. This, as elsewhere, is the commonest ore of lead ; it not 
only occurs in large deposits, but it is widely distributed over the 
Colony. 

It is usually found in the massive state, and with a granular 
structure which varies from fine to coarse. Occasionally it is met 
with fairly well crystallized, as at CambaJong, but on the whole 
crystals are rare. La other respects it presents all the usual pro- 
perties of the mineral as found in other countries. 

Localities — Near Liverell, and other places in New England ; 
at Talwal Creek, on Yalwal Water ; Reedy Creek ; Wallabadah ; 
on the Peel ; the Page, Isis, and Hunter Rivers ; at Burrowa, in 
quartz veins ; with copper ores, on Lawson's Creek, a tributary of 
the Cudgegong ; at Gulgong ; Jugiong Creek ; Crookwell River ; 
Waroo, near Humewood ; near Bathurst ; Wellington ; Sandy 
Swamp j at Mylora Creek, near Yass, in a quartz porphyry j at 
Woolgarloo, in association with fluor spar ; near Bombala ; at 
Kiandra, in quartz veins. 

Li all cases the galena is more or less rich in silver. 

Tin. 

Cassiterite. 

Tinstone. Chem. comp: Tin binoxide = Sn02. Tin, 78 '67; 
oxygen, 21-33 = 100. 

Tetragonal system. Occurs massive, crystallized, and as rolled 
pebbles and masses known as " stream tin." Well-developed crys- 
tals are by no means rare ; the forms assumed are very similar to 
those found in other coimtries, viz., the prism, or a series of prisms 
combined with the pyramid, or pyramids, with and without the basal 
pinacoid plane. Sometimes the crystals are very large, especially 
those which are made up solely of the planes of the pyramid. 

The lustre is usually bright metallic, hence many of the speci- 
mens are exceedingly pretty and brilliant, especially some of the 
ruby and amber coloured transparent specimens, which, however, 
have not as a rule so high a lustre as the black ciystals \ the colour 
varies from almost colourless and transparent, through shades of 
grey, yellow, amber, red, brown, to black, and opaque. Often more 
than one of these colours are to be seen in the same specimen, 
when the effect is very fine, especially the admixture of the ruby- 
red and translucent amber colours. 

The hardness and sp. gr. do not appear to differ from tinstone 
obtained elsewhere. 

The principal tin veins in New South Wales which have yet 
been worked, occur in granite at once seen to be similar to 



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26 THE MINERALS OF mW SOUTH WALES. 

that of Cornwall. In isome parts, as at Elsmore and Newstead, 
New England, much of it occurs in veins of greisen (mica and 
quartz), and in eurite (felspar and quartz). At Newstead Mine, 
and also at the Albion Tin Mine, crystals of tin-stone are seen 
disseminated through large and well-formed transparent quartz 
crystals. At the former place the quartz crystals in which it 
occurs often weigh nearly a hundred weight. 

It occurs in association with molybdenite, fluor spar, a yellow 
steatitic mineral, garnet, beryl, topaz, the matrix of the tin-stone 
is sometimes in places composed solely of topaz ; malachite, copper 
and iron pyrites, mispickLe, tourmaline or schorl, in radiated 
groups of crystals, and wolfram. I haVe not seen wolfram in the 
same veins, but in other veins in almost juxtaposition. 

Wood tin occurs in veins at Glen Creek. 

Alluvial tin deposits, — ^There are two distinct sets of tin drifts, 
an older and newer ; the former commonly occur at a lower depth, 
they are generally much more compact and often cemented together 
into a hard conglomerate, usually so hard as to require stamping. 
The tinstone is also much rounded and waterwom ; whereas the 
tinstone in the newer drift is bright, and has undergone but little 
attrition. Some of the fragments or pebbles of rolled tinstone 
weigh many pounds, notably on the Butchart Tin Mine. 

T^ie minerals found associated with the stream tin are much the 
same as those found with it in situ ; but in addition we find gold 
in small quantities, diamonds, the sapphire, zircon, pleonaste, topaz 
often of large size, bismuthite, rutile, and others. 

Up to the present, most of the tin has been obtained from the 
New England district. 

Rolled toood tin of a grey and black colour, at Abingdon ; also 
at Grenfell, with extremely well-marked concentric and radiate 
structure, composed of red, brown, and black bands, other frag- 
ments made up of alternate light and dark-grey bands. Also 
Lambing Flat and Grampian Hills. 

Localities, — ^The XJndercliff and Bookookoorara, in county 
Buller; Tea-tree Creek, tributary of Orara River; Mitchell and 
Henry Rivers (County of Gresham) ; Gordon's Creek, Glen Creek, 
Ranger's Valley, Shannon River, Severn River, Paradise Creek, 
Sheep-station Creek, Spring Creek, Stockyard Creek; Swan Creek, 
near Inverell ; Yarrow River, Middle Creek, Auburn Yale Creek, 
Cope's Creek, Sandy and Moredun Creeks, tributaries of the 
Bundarra, Kentucky Ponds, Honey's Creek, Honeysuckle Creek, 
Gwydir and Rocky Rivers, Sandy Creek, Warialda Creek, Myall 
and Reedy Creeks ; Bald Rock ; Nangahra, Tiabundie, and 
Mount Lowry Creeks ; Maryland and Herding Creeks ; Boonoo 
Boonoo; Mount Mitchell and Oban, Sara and Ann Rivers, Ufalla, 
Carlyle Creek, Deepwater, Mole River, and Sandy Mount ; Bende- 



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THS MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 27 

meer in greisen ; Quirindi, and Carroll's Creeks ; Turon River, 
Shoalhaven River; Long Gully and Spring Creek, near Bungonia ; 
Burra Creek, Comity of Selwyn ; Dabarra, Jingellie Creek ; at 
Mowemban in quartz associated with chalcedony. Vein tin 
occurs in quarries at Billabong, near Wagga Wagga. Rolled 
wood tin, with the diamonds near Mudgee and Bathurst ; Tum- 
berumba, with gold. 

The first public mention made of the occurrence of tin in New 
South Wales was by the Rev. W. B. Clarke. In the Sydney 
Morning Heraldy August 16th, 1849, he records having found it 
in the Alps along part of the Murrumbidgee. 

Mr. Clarke mentions having found tinstone pseudomorphous 
after felspar crystals in New England. 

In the* Papers relating to Geological Swrveys published by the 
Government, I find that Mr. Hargraves makes the following 
mention of tin ore in New South Wales : — 

P. 71. " GuntawoQg, 18th July, 1851. 

" I have received information from Mr. Rouse of this place 
(Guntawang) that a shepherd of his foimd tin at Warrambungall 
Mountain some years ago, distant 100 miles north of this place. 
I have therefore determined to visit the locality, and start for that 
place to-morrow, <fec. 

" E. H. Hargraves." 

P. 72. "Mudgee, 3rd August, 1851. 

" In travelling 6 miles N.W. of the Cudgegong, I found the gold 
region ceased; and on arriving at the Warrambungall Mountains, 
100 miles N.W., I found coal and iron in great abundance on 
every hill, but was not successfdl in finding the tin. The shepherd 
who knows the locality gave me a piece which he had smelted into 
bars, a sample of which I herewith enclose, which I should suppose 
contains 30 per cent, of silver, and in a short time the locality will 
be known to me. The man wants a large consideration for disclosing 
the whereabouts at present. 

« E. H. Hargraves." 

Amount of tin ore raised fit)m 1872 up to the end of 1874 was 
valued at ^6866,461. 

Titanium, 

RUTILE. 

Chemical composition : Titanic acid = TiOj. Crystallizing usually 
in tetragonal prisms. Up to the present time I have only found 
it in the form of fragments of crystals with striated surfaces, or 
in rounded grains of a hair-brown colour. It is found with the 
gem sand from Bald Hill near Bathurst and at Uralla. 



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28 THE MINBRALS OF NEW SOUTH WAXES. 

Sroohite, — ^Which is an allotropic form of titanic acid, crystal- 
lizing in flattened forms belonging to the rhombic system, has also 
been found in New South Wales. 

In the diamond drift near Mudgee as flat, transparent, red and 
translucent reddish-white plates, with striated surfaces. H = 6, 
and sp. gr. = 4*13. Chem. comp. : Pure titanic acid, except a minute 
trace of iron oxide (Dr. Thomson). 

Anatase, — ^A third allotropic form of titanic add, crystallizing in 
tetragonal pyramids. This has been found at the. dry diggings of 
Burrandong. 

Sphene. 

A calcium silico-titanate. Locality is uncertain ; I have met 
with but one well crystallized specimen, of a green colour. 

Tungsten. 
Wolfram. 

Iron and manganese tungstate = (FeMn) WO4. It is found in 
rolled masses in association with tin-stone in many parts of New 
England. It is also found in situ in the quartz veins on Elsmore, 
Newstead, and other places, in the usual form of imperfectly 
developed tabular crystals. It is commonly accompanied by iron 
pyrites. 

SCHEELITE. 

Calcium timgstate = CaTiOj. Probably occurs in New England. 

Molybdenum. 

Molybdenite. 

Chemical comp. : Molybdenum sulphide MoS,. 
Usually found massive with a coarsely granular structure; also in 
grains, scales, plates, and rosette clusters of crystals. Sometimes 
the flat hexagonal plates or crystals are of large size; I have found 
some as large as a half-crown on the Elsmore Tin Mine. 

The colour is usually bluish-white, with a strong metallic lustre. 

Associations. — It is rather common in the New England tin 
districts, especially at the Elsmore and Newstead tin mines, where 
it occurs in the tin veins traversing the granite. It is most usually 
associated with quartz. On the Himter River it is foimd associ- 
ated with gold, galena, pyrites, and other minerals. 

Localities. — ^It also occurs at Bullin Flat, near Goulbum, at 
Kiandra with quartz, and Cleveland Bay. 



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THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 29 

Arsenic. 

Native Arsenic. 

In massive pieces with mammillated surface, Lunatic Beef, 
Solferino. 

MispiCELE. — ^Arsenical Pyrites. " 

Chem. Comp. ; Sulp-arsenide of iron FeS + FeAs. 

Arsenic, 46*0; sulphur, 19'6; iron, 34*4 = 100. Rhombic 
system. Coloiir almost silver white. Streak dark-greyish black. 

Kather large crystals occur with quartz near Goulbum, also 
Shoalhaven River associated with small hexagonal prisms of beryl, 
which penetrate the mispickle. In New England, Elsmore, and 
other places. Near Orange, very rich in gold. On the Moama or 
Mitchell River near Cooradooral. 

At Carcoar, with marcasite and common pyrites. Gulgong. 

Occasionally the mispickle is exceediogly rich in gold. 

Tellurium. 

Native Tellurium. 
A rare metal — ^reported to occur at Bingera. 

Antimony. 

Native Antimony. 

I can find no authentic record of the occurrence of native 
metallic antimony in New South Wales, although I believe it has 
been met with in New England and elsewhere. 

Antimonite. 

Chem. Comp. : antimony sulphide = SbjSa. 

Sb = 71-8; S = 28-2 = 100. 

This ore is met with in the massive state in mineral veins, and 
occasionally in rolled masses ; crystals appear to be rare. 

It occurs on the Clarence and Paterson Rivers, the mineral 
occuring in masses of large size, and showing broad, well-defined, 
striated cleavage planes, portions of the surface usually being 
incrusted with a yellow coating of cervantite, an oxide of antimony 
= Sb04. 

It is found associated in many parts of New England with 
tinstone, molybdenite, wolfram, and other minerals. 

Localities. — ^Tenterfield, Armidale, Gresford, Rylstone, Rocky 
River, Grafton, Macleay and Hastings Rivers, near Mt. Mitchell, 
Boorolong, Gara, Drake, Nundle Gold Field, Solferino, Wallerawang, 
Gundagai, Shoalhaven River, Eden, Twofold Bay. 

The Rev. W. B. Clarke records finding a rolled mass on the 
North Shore. 



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30 THB MINEBALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

Cervantite. 

Chem. Comp.: Antimony oxide = Sb04. Sb = 79-2; = 20*8 = 
100, 

Usually occurs massive, as an incrustation upon antimonite 
sometimes as minute circular crystals of a dull yellow colour. 

Localities. — ^Almost the same as those for antimonite, as at 
Gwyra near Armidale, Pyramul, and other places. 

Jamesonite. 

Chem. Comp. = 2 (PbFe) S + Sb, S,. 

Sulphur, 21-1; antimony, 32-2; lead, 43-7; iron 30 = 100. 

This mineraly usually occurs in fibrous masses of a bluish lead- 
grey colour. 

It occurs with cervantite in a soft quartz near to Campbell Creek 
and Nuggety Gully, Bathurst district. 

Bismuth. 

Native Bismuth. 

Found in the New England District between Oban and Tenter- 
field. This metal is now becoming very valuable. 

BiSMUTHITE. 

Chem. Comp. : A hydrated carbonate of bismuth. Bismuth 
oxide, 90*0; carbonic acid, 6*5; water, 3*5 = 100. 

Found in the form of more or less roimded grains and pebbles 
with stream tin in the New England district. 



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THE MINERALS OP NEW SOUTH WALES. 31 

PART 11. 

NON-METALLIC MINERALS. 

Class I. 

Carbon and Carbonaceous Minerals. 
Diamond. 

Chem. comp. : Carbon. Cubical system. The first mention 
made of the existence of the diamond in New South Wales, 
which I have been able to find, is one by Mr. E. H. Hargraves, 
who, in his report, dated from the " Wellington Inn," Guyong, 
on the 2nd July, 1851, refers to some enclosed specimens of gold, 
gems, and " a small one of the diamond kind," from Reedy Creek, 
16 miles from Bathurst. The next record of the occurrence 
of the diamond in New South Wales appears to have been made 
by the Rev. W. B. Clarke, in an appendix to his " Southern 
Gold Fields," published in 1860 ; he records that four were 
brought to him on September 21st, 1859, which were obtained 
from the Macquarie River, near Suttor*s Bar ; the ciystalline 
form which they exhibited was that of the triakisoctohedron 
or three-faced octohedron, and one of them had a sp. gr. of 3*40. 
Another which was received from Burrendong, on December 29th, 
1859, had a sp. gr. of 3*50. One from Pyramul Creek, crystallized 
in the hexakis or six-faced octohedron, weighed 9*44 grains, and 
had a sp. gr. of 3*49. Another was sent to him in August, 1860, 
which had been found in the Calabash Creek by a digger as far 
back as 1852. 

Diamonds were found by the gold diggers on the Mudgee Diar 
mond Diggings in 1867, but were not especially worked until 1869. 

The diamonds were obtained from outliers of an old river- 
drift which had in parts been protected frt)m denudation by a cap- 
ping of hard compact basalt. This drift was made up mostly of 
boulders and pebbles of quartz, jasper, agate, quartzite, flinty 
slate, silicified wood, shale, sandstone, and abundance of coarse 
sand mixed with more or less clay. 

Many of the boulders are remarkable for the peculiar briUiant 
polish which they possess. The principal minerals found with the 
diamond are gold, garnets, woodtin, brookite, magnetite, ilmenite, 
tourmaline, zircon, sapphire, ruby, adamantine spar, barklyite, 
common, and a peculiar lavender-coloured variety of corundum. 



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32 THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

quartz, topaz, magnesite and nodules of limonite which had been 
set free from an impure magnesite, black vesicular pleonaste, spinel, 
ruby, and osmo-iridium. 

The largest diamond found weighed 16*2 grains, or about 5f 
carats. 

The average sp. gr. was 344, and the average weight of a large 
number of those obtained was but 0*23 carat. (For further 
particulars, see paper on the Mudgee Diamond Melds, by Professor 
Thomson and Mr.* Norman Taylor, in the Trans. Roy. Soc. 
N.S.W., 1870.) The total number found has been stated roughly 
at about 6,000 ; the number also from Bingera must be nearly as 
many — ^in all, say, 10,000 at least. 

In colour they vary from colourless and transparent to various 
shades of straw, yellow, brown, light-green, and black. One of a 
rich dark-green was found in the form of a flattened hemitrope 
octohedron. 

The most common crystalline forms which have been met with 
are the octohedron the hemitrope octohedron, the rhombic dode- 
cahedron, the triakis and hexakis octohedron. The flattened 
triangular hemitrope crystals are very common ; one specimen of 
the deltoidal dodecahedron was met with. 

The lustre is usually brilliant or adamantine, but occasionally 
they have a dull appearance. This is not due to any coating of 
foreign matter or to the same cause as the dulness of less hard 
waterwom crystals ; but it is owing to the presence of innumer- 
able edges and angles belonging to the structure of the crystal ; 
these reflect the light irregularly at all angles and give the stone 
its frosted appearance. 

The diamonds at Bingera occur imder almost exactly the same 
circumstances as at Mudgee, and with the same minerals, except 
that I did not come across either the black vesicular pleonaste or 
barklyite. 

From a series of determinations made on nineteen of the Bingera 
diamonds, I obtained a mean sp. gr. of 3*42. (For details vide 
paper upon the Bingera Diamond Fields — ^Trans. Boy. Soc., N.S. W., 
1873.) 

Diamonds have also been found at Bald Hill, Hill End, with 
the same gems as at the above-mentioned places ; one octohedral 
crystal, rather flattened, which I examined, weighed 9*6 grains 
(troy) and had a sp. gr. of 3*58. 

A specimen of " bort" or black diamond was presented to me 
by Mr. J. R. Peebles, of Sydney, which was obtained near 
Bathurst ; it is of about the same size as a large pea, black in 
colour, with a graphitic or black-lead lustre ; it is very nearly 
spherical in form, but has a few slight irregular processes, which 
seem to be due to an attempt to assume the form of the hexakis 
octohedron. 



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THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 33 

In weight it is 7*352 grains (troy), and at 70® F. the sp. gr. is 
3-56. 

Mr. Wilkinson .mentions, that from the Bengonover Tin Mine, 
near the Borah Tin Mine, several diamonds were obtained,* the 
largest being 7*5 grains. From the Borah Tin Mine, situated at 
the jimction of Cope's Creek with the Gwydir, 200 were obtained 
in a few months ; out of a batch of 86, averaging 1 carat grain 
each, the largest weighed 5*5 grains. IHamonds have been found 
on most of flie alluvial tin workings at Cope's, Newstead^ Veget- 
able, and Middle Creeks, and elsewhere in the district. 

Amongst other places the diamond has been found in the Turon, 
the Abercrombie, the Cudgegong, Macquarie, and Shoalhaven 
Bivers. One was found in August, 1874, in Brook's Creek, Gun- 
daroo, near Goulbum, valued at £3. At Uralla, Oberon, and 
Trunkey, they are by no means uncommon ; and I have recently 
obtained a small hemitrope octohedron from the Lachlan Biver 
weighing 1*5 grains. 

Diamonds have also been obtained from diggings on the sea- 
shore near to Ballina. 

A drift having almost exactly the same characters as those at 
Bingera and Mudgee, occurs at Wallerawang, and on the Mary 
Biver, Queensland — even to the presence of masses of conglomerate 
of jasper, quartz, and other pebbles agglutinated toge^er by a 
ferruginous and manganiferous cement. 

Graphite. — Plumbago. 

Chem. comp. : Carbon. Hexagonal system. Occurs with quartz, 
iron pyrites, and pyromorphite at the head of the Abercrombie 
Biver, possesses a curved lamellar structure. Occurs in small 
radiating masses in the granite at Dundee, in New Valley, and near 
Tenterfield. 

Beported also from Bungonia, but its existence there is doubtful ; 
also from the Cordeaux Biver, near Mt. Keira, and Plumbago 
Creek near junction of Timbarra Creek, county of Drake. 

Small particles are not uncommon in the sandsto|ie about Sydney 
and other parts. 

Any black clay or other substance which can be made to leave a 
mark on paper is brought into Sydney as a sample of a most 
valuable deposit of graphite. I have not yet seen, out of many 
highly extolled specimens, one fit for even the commonest purpose. 

Coal. 

Asa mineral there is not much to be said about the coal of New 
South Wales, as there is no very material difference between it 
and that of England. The coal from certain mines is caking, 
and from others non-caking, %,€,, it will not famish a coke. The 



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34 



THE MINE&ALS OF KKW SOUTH WALES. 



amount of ash varies considerably, the coal from some of the 
Northern pits not containing more than about 2*0 per cent., while 
some of the Western and Southern coals contain from 8 to 14 per 
cent. In some cases the seams are from 30 to even 40 feet in 
thickness. 

Localities. — Owing to coal being widely distributed over New 
South Wales it would be almost an endless task to mention the 
names of places under which it lies or at which it crops out, it must 
therefore sujOGLce to refer the reader to the mineral map published by 
the Government. 

The area of the various coal fields of New South Wales is 
approximately estimated at some 24,840 square miles. 

The amount of coal raised during the year 1874 was in round 
numbers : — 

Northern Gold Fields 1,126,000 

Southern do 137,000 

Western do. 44,000 



Total 



1,305,000 tons. 



Valued at about £975,000. 

For analyses of the coal raised by the various pits in New South 
Wales, I must refer you to my report made to the Mining Depart- 
ment, and now in course of publication by the Government; 
but there are one or two other analyses which are not included 
in that paper ; the following is by Mr. BlcL Smith of the School of 
Mines, Ijondon : — 



BulK Coal. 

Carbon 

Hjdrogen 

Oxygen and Hydrogen . . . 

Sulphtir 

Ash 

Water 


... 76-57 
... 4-70 
... 4-99 
... 0-54 
... 1317 
... 103 




100-00 


Coke 

Volatile gaseous matter ... 
Water 


... 74-78 
... 2419 
... 103 




100-00 



Sp. gravity = 1-471. 



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THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES, 35 

Some aaalyses of the Wallerawang Coal gave the following 
results : — 

A sample from a seam 17 feet 6 inches thick gave : — 

Moisture 1*51 

Volatile hydrocarbons ... 33*24 

Fixed carbon 55*74 ) n^i,^ ak.oa ^««^«* 

Ash, white g.gQ I Coke = 65-24 per cent. 

99-99 



Sp. gravity =1-333. 

Another seam 6 feet 6 inches thick : — 

Moisture 1-95 

Volatile hydrocarbons ... 27*25 

Fixed carbon 61*86 ) ,y^.Q^ ^^ ^^^. ^ , ^ 

Ash, white g.94|70'80peroent.coke. 

100-00 

Sp.gr. = 1*398. 

The coal from the Waratah Company's mine is sometimes 
beautifully iridescent. And in the Australian Agricultural Com- 
pany's Borehole pit, nodules of hard and compact anthracitic coal 
are met with in the substance of the softer coal. 

Coal containing pea-iron ore is abundant at Nattai. Another 
coal, from near to Nattai, is very brilliant in lustre, and breaks 
with a pitchy lustrous conchoidal fracture like albertite; it is 
also marked by the presence of thick layers of " mother-of-coal " 
or fibrous mineral charcoal. 

A splintery anthracite is said to occur at Gordon Brook, in the 
county of Bichmond. As far as I have seen at present, only one 
of the so-called New South Wales anthracites are really deserving 
of that name, the others are merely very poor or else baked coals, 
i.e., coal which has been more or less destroyed by the intrusion of a 
dyke of some igneous rock. 

Lignite.— ^Brown coal. 

Chem. comp. : Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and ash. This sub- 
stance may be looked upon as an imperfect coal. In some cases it 
still retains the original fibrous woody structure ; in other cases it 
is scaly or massive. 

Found at Kiandra. Brown, but black in parts, with a pitchy 
lustre; frturture subconchoidal ; exhibits woody structure. On 
the Lachlan Biver, where it possesses a platy structure; found 
also on Mr. Berry's land, at the mouth of the Shoalhaven, at a 
depth of 12 feet; also at Turalla Creek, County of Argyle, retains 
original structure of the wood, and has much the same appearance 
as '^ bog oak." 



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36 THE HIKEEALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

B.ESIKITE. 

Reported to occur on the Clarence River. 

Boa Butter. 
A white, soft, somewhat unctuous substance, found between 
Twofold Bay and Brogo. Mentioned by the Rev. W. B. Clarke. 

Mineral "Wax. — Ozo-kerite. 

Chem. comp. : Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Of a brown-grey 
colour. Breaks with a subconchoidal fracture. Ooola. 

Bathvellite, or Torbanite. 
Found at Mt. York and Macquarie Fields. 

Elatebite. — Elastic bitumen. 

Chem. comp. : Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. At Reedy Creek 
or Petrolia there is said to be a band of thm and very elastic sub- 
stance like elaterite. 

Kerosene Shale. 

This mineral is found abundantly in the coal measures of New 
South Wales, usually in the form of more or less lenticular 
deposits. The name wollongongite was given to it by Dana, but 
the term has never come into general use. 

In colour the mineral varies from brown, sometimes a greenish- 
brown, to jet black. It usually weathers white, and as the surfaces 
of the joints are also usually coated with a thin film of a white clay- 
like substance, the mineral is sometimes termed ** White Coal." 
The fracture is usually large conchoidal. When struck it gives out 
a woody sound. Can be cut by the knife into comparatively thin 
shavings. Gives a black shining streak and a brown powder. 
Thin sections, under the microscope, show an amber, brown, and 
black reticulated structure. The brown portions are those which 
transmit the light, and the black the opaque portions. Mr. E. T. 
Newton, assistant naturalist to the Geological Survey of England, 
has recently written a valuable and interesting paper upon the 
microscopic structure of the so-called white coal and tasmanite of 
Tasmania. (See Geol. Mag., Sept, 1875.) 

Chemical Composition. 
Different samples vary very much in composition. From 
analyses which I have made, the following results were obtained : — 

Cfreta. 

Moisture '48 

Volatile hydrocarbons ... 61 -66 

Fixed carbon 2513 

Ash (grey) 13-21 



100-00 



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THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 37 



(1.) 

Moisture 1-00 

VolatUe hydrocarbons ... 66-33 

Fixed carbon 6-27 

Ash (grey) 26-40 


(2.) 
1-01 

71-70 

6-17 

21-12 




100-00 


100-00 


Moisture ) 

Volatile hydrocarbons / ' 

Fixed carbon 

Ash 


Hartley. 

.. 82-24 

4-97 
.. 12-79 


Wbllongong. 

82-50 

6-50 
11-00 



100-00 100-00 



Specific gravity = 1 -052. 

From the Hartley specimen, the ash was pinkish grey. 
The analysis of the specimen fix)m WoUongong was made by 
Prof. Silliman. 

A very similar shale is found in New Caledonia ; the physical 

properties are very similar, and the chemical composition is abown 

by the following analysis : — 

Moisture ... 

Volatile hydrocarbons 

Fixed carbon ... ... 8-71 

Ash 26-12 



j... 65-17 



100-00 
Specific gravity = 1 -238. 

Some of the Hartley shale has been known to yield as much as 
180 gallons of crude oil per ton. 

Some specimens firom Hartley give on fracture very long flexible 
concavo-convex flakes. Again, some shales like those from Murrur- 
undi are full of little specks of a white aluminous pipeclay like 
mineral 

The kerosene shale when heated in a tube neither decrepitates 
nor fuses, but there distils over from it a mixture of gaseous and 
liquid hydrocarbons. 

It is found at Stony Creek, Berrima, Wollongong, American 
Creek, near Murrurundi ; Greta, Lake Macquarie, and Hartley. 

Jet. 
A true jet which takes a high polish and breaks with a 
conchoidal fracture, occurs as occasional layers in the Hartley 
shale* 



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36 THE MINEBALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

Class II. 

Sulphur. 

Native Sulphur. 

Occurs in small quantities as a sublimate from the vents of Mount 
Wingen, the so called " Burning Mountain," in association with 
iron sulphate and various other salts. 

Class III. 

Salts. 

Common Salt. 

Chem. comp. : Sodium chloride. Common in most spring 
waters ; occasionally found as an incrustation from the evaporation 
of lakes and waterholes. 

Natron. 

Chem. comp. : Hydrated sodium carbonate. Said to occur as a 
deposit from the Mud Wells in the Namoi Scrub. 

Class IV. 

Earthy Minerals 

Barttbs. — Heavy spar. 

Chem. comp.: Barium sulphate. Khombic system. It occurs 
with fibrous and massive green carbonate of copper, copper 
pyrites, and galena, at Cambalong, Merinoo. 

Selenite, or Gypsum. 

Chem. comp. : Hydrated calcium sulphate. Khombic system. 
Found crystallized in clay on the Darling River. Also on the 
Began River. Of commercial value for the manufacture of Plaster- 
of-Paris and other cements. 

Arragonite. 

Chem. comp. : Calcium carbonate. 

Rhombic system. Good crystals of this form of carbonate of 
lime are perhaps more common than of the former mineral caJcite, 
especially in connection with stalactites and as enclosures within 
the amygdaloidal cavities of basalt. 

Beautiful groups of crystals and bunches of flosferri have been 
obtained from the limestone caves at Lob's Hole, the Coodradigbee, 
the junction of Cotton's River and the Murrumbidgee ; and from 
near Bungonia. It also occurs at the Cataract River, and fair 
specimens of stalactitic arragmite are to be seen at P<»:t Hacking. 
The more or less ^herical concretions termed " cave pearls" by 
Professor Boyd Dawkins, F.R.S., are also foimd in some of the 
above caves notably from those at the Coodradigbee. 



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THB MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 39 

Airagonite occurs in vesicolar basalt at Cherry-tree Hill near 
Mudgee, and groups of radiating crystals several inches in length 
are met with in a similar rock at Inverell ; Jordan's Hill, Cudge- 
gong; at the Brick Kiln, Bock Flat, in radiate columns or 
crystals of variegated green and white colours. 

Calcareous Olhifa, or Fresh-water Limestone. — ^At Burragorang, 
Quialago Creek, Goulbum Plains, and at Newstead Station, New 
England. 

Calgite. — ^Iceland spar. 

Chem. comp. : Calcium carbonate. Hexagonal system. Some- 
times well-developed crystals are met with. The usual forms are 
rhombohedra and their combinations, also combined with the termi- 
nal pinacoid or o.p. plane, and occasionally scalenohedra. I have 
not as yet observed the prism amongst the New South Wales forms. 

The localities for calcite are extremely numerous, as it is met 
with wherever limestone occurs, and is a common substance in 
mineral veins. 

Large well-developed flat rhombohedral crystals of calcite occur, 
associated with quartz, in the joints and cavities which exist in 
the basalt of the Pennant Hills, near Parramatta. It is also 
met with in the quartz veins in association with and as the matrix 
of gold, as at Gulgong and other places. It is sometimes present 
in ^e joints in sandstone, as at the Cataract Biver. 

Opaque white calcite occurs at Capertee. 

Marble, — Several beds of very fine marble, or crystalline lime- 
stone, occur in different parts of the Colony, as at Wollondilly, 
whence one of the marbles, used in paving various public buildings 
in Sydney has been obtained — as the great hall at the University, 
and at the Post Office. Much of the Wollondilly so-called " white 
marble" is of a creamy tint, variegated with pale red and light 
blue streaks. A slate-coloured marble, used in the same buildings, 
is brought from Marulan, near Goulbum. There is a beautifid white 
marble near Bathurst, and a brecciated slate-coloured one streaked 
with white at Wallerawang and other spots between the above 
two places. Beautiful marbles occur at Mudgee and Orange; also at 
Wellington, celebrated for its caves. At Bangalore, on the Goul- 
bum Plains, iliere is found a white crystalline marble. At Yass. 
Queanbeyan. Good grey and white crystalline marbles are found 
along the banks of the Murrumbidgee. There are many caves in 
the limestone between the Belubula Biver and the Conomodine 
Creek, in the Orange district, containing animal remains, some of 
which are of considerable size. Blue-grey limestone at Warialda. 
The outcrops of small seams of grey crystalline limestone or marble 
are seen exposed in the Minumurra Creek, near Jamberoo, inter- 
bedded with the coal, shale, and sandstones of that district. 



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40 THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

Oolitic Limestone, — ^A limestone of this structure is said to occur 
on the Page Biyer. 

Concretions, — Calcareous concretions are common in the black 
and chocolate t^oloured soils of igneous origin, which occur in 
various parts of the Colony, such as on the Liverpool Plains, New 
England, Gwydir district. Hunter River district, and at Scone, and 
in numerous other localities where there is a soil derived from the 
decomposition of a basaltic or other igneous rock. 

Strontianite. 

I have not yet met with any strontium minerals in New South 
Wales. 

Apatite. 

Chem. Comp. : Chloro-phosphate of calcium. Crystallizes in the 
hexagonal system, in the form of six-sided prisms. It is reported 
to occur in well-formed crystals with bitter spar on the Lachlan, 
between Boco Rock and Wog-wog, and with graphite and quartz at 
the head of the Abercrombie River ; also on the Clarence River. 

This mineral is of considerable commercial value. 

Wavellite. 

Chem. Comp. : A hydrated aluminium phosphate. A yellow 
mineral, reported to be Wavellite with a radiate structure is 
found in the fissures of felstone pebbles common in Rat's Castle 
Creek, Two-mile Flat, Mudgee. 

Fluor Spar. 

Chem. Comp. : Calcium fluoride. Crystallizes in the cubical 
system. 

Up to the present it has apparently only been found in the 
massive state, or in but very imperfect octohedral crystals. This 
mineral has been met with in several places in the New England 
district, near to Inverell, at Elsmore ; at the Boundary, Sydney 
and Caledonian Tin Mines, on Cope's and Middle Creeks, where it 
is found in association with tinstone, a green steatitic clay, copper 
pyrites, galena, quartz, molybdenite, and other minerals, all of 
which may often be seen in one hard specimen. 

It also occurs at south Wiseman's Creek in association with 
copper ores ; in certain cases the fluor is much fissured, and the 
cracks are filled in with red oxide and blue carbonate of copper, 
which impart to the mineral a very pretty and ornamental appear- 
ance, and it would in consequence probably serve for iulaid work 
At Woolgarloo Lead Mines it is found in the massive state as the 
matrix of galena ; it is usually opaque or but semi-translucent 
white with pale-bluish or purple veinings. 

At Mount Lambie Mr. Wilkinson reports its presence in the 
Devonian beds. 



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THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 41 

Epsomite.' 

Chem. Comp. : Hydrated magnesium sulphate. Occurs as an 
efflorescence in the caves of the Hawksbury sandstone ; usually 
masses of fibrous crystals are met with sometimes five or six inches 
in length, of a beautiful white silky lustre. The crystals are 
usually curved towards the free end; also in radiate groups of 
small crystals. Very fine specimens have been obtained from 
Dabee, Wallerawang, and Mudgee, the Great Western mines, Icely, 
and Barragorang. 

Maonesite. 

Chem. Comp. : Magnesium carbonate. Crystallizes in the 
hexagonal system, usually as rhombohedra ; but no well-developed 
crystals have yet come under my notice. It is most commonly found 
massive, or in concretions, having a mammillated or botryoidal 
form. H. = 4 to 6. Sp. gr. = 2*94. 

It is found in New England in various places, and upon the 
Diamond Fields at Bingera, and near Mudgee ; when impure it is 
of a gray or gray-brown colour, but when pure it is of a dazzling 
white ; compact, tough, and breaks with a flat conchoidal fructure. 
It adheres to the tongue, and has a very cold feel like porcelain. 

It eflfervesces with hydrochloric acid, but with difficulty. 

At the diamond diggings at Two-mile Flat, near Mudgee, pure 
white magnesite was . observed to form by the spontaneous decom- 
position of the heaps of refuse from the miners' shafts ; pebbles 
were quickly cemented together by it. 

The late Dr. Thomson of the Sydney University found that the 
magnesite thus formed, and incrusting rubbish heaps, timber, old 
tools, etc., had the following composition : — 

Magnesia ... ... ... ... 46*99 

Carbonic acid 49*78 

Water 4*08 



100*85 



Sp. gr. = 2*94. 

This magnesite sometimes contained calcite. It was also observed 
under the same circumstances on Cunningham's Diggings on the 
east side of Cudgegong Creek, and there with a peculiar vermicular 
or worm-like form. 

Another locality is the Lachlan Elver. 

Sulphate op Alumina. 

Chem. comp. : Hydrated aluminium sulphate. Commonly called 
'< alum," from its astringent taste, but potassium is absent from the 
mineral. 



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42 THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

Commonly met with as an efflorescence in caves and under 
sheltered ledges of the coal measure sandstone, as at Dabee, 
Wallerawang, Mudgee Road, the mouth of the Shoalhaven River, 
and other places where it is usually associated with epsomite. 
Also found in the crevices of a blue slate at Alum Creek, and at 
the Gibraltar Rock, Shoalhaven. Occurs as a deposit with various 
other salts from the vents at Mount Wingen, together with native 
sulphur in small quantities. 

Websterite. 

Chem. Comp. : Aluminium s\ilphate. Reported to occur on 
Brush Creek, Dumaresq River. 

Silica, 
Quartz. — ^Rock crystal. 

Chem. comp. : Silica. Hexagonal system. Found in nearly all 
parts of the Colony, and in crystals more or less perfectly developed ; 
the most common form is the prism combined with the p3rramid. 
Occasionally prisms closed at both ends by planes of the pyramid ; 
also double pyramids. Such crystals are, however, usually small 
and generally occur in quartz porphyries, or are derived from the 
decomposition of such. 

Occasionally some very large crystals are met with, notably at 
Newstead Tin Mine, New England, where, in one of the shafts, 
crystals nearly one cwt. were met with ; within these, crystals of 
tinstone were often found dissenunated. 

Large crystals of smoky quartz are conmion almost throughout 
New England, as at Bingera, Inverell, Cope's Creek, XJralla, and 
at Mudgee. Some of the rock crystals found in the alluvial tin 
deposits present a very pretty appearance, from the presence of 
numerous minute fissures and internal films, streaks and patches 
of yellow, orange, and red colours. Most of the crystals from 
New England have one face of the pyramid much more largely 
developed, so much so in some cases as to almost obliterate the 
others. 

Elongated pyramids containing disseminated crystal of cassiterite 
are common at the Albion Tin Mine ; these crystals of quartz are 
dull and slightly rough on three of the faces, and bright on the 
opposite three. 

Smoky brown Caimgorum and limpid quartz crystals are plentiful 
in Ranger's Valley, River Severn ; Macintyre River, Middle Creek, 
Byron's Plains. 

Quartz crystals with rounded edges and dull surfaces, as if 
acted upon by hydrofluoric acid, occur in the coarse-grained granite 
on Mann's River. 



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THE MINERALS OF KEW SOUTH WALES. 43 

Quartz crystals are common near the junction of the Turon and 
Macquarie Rivers; at Bukulla, clear and brilliant crystals; from the 
Diamond Mountain, Cudgegong, Macquarie River, in anamygda- 
loidal basalt, Deep Lead, Gulgong Rush ; at Carcoar, containing 
lamellar magnetite, also with a pale blue quartz. Well-developed 
and brilliant crystals from Bullamalite Creek, a tributary of the 
Mulwaree, near Goulbum, at Gurragangamore and other places on 
the Qoulbum Plains ; the Lachlan River, Cooma, Kiandra, the 
Murrumbidgee ; in the Naas Yalley, with tourmaline and schorl ; 
between Pambula and Eden, with molybdenite. 

Up to the present the number of substances which I have 
observed enclosed within quartz crystals found in this Colony is 
not great 

Endomorphs in Qtiartz OrystaU. 

1. Actinolite — Morvembah, Morendee,on the Meroo, a tributary 
of the Cudgegong. 

2. Asbestos — XJralla. 

3. Cassiterite or Tin-stone— Albion and Newstead Mines, New 
England. 

4. Epidote — ^Towamba and Maneero. 

5. Argentiferous Galena — ^Neax Stimmer's Hill, Bathurst. 

6. Gold — Boro Creek and other places. 

7. Graphite — Head of Abercrombie River. 

8. Orthoclose felspar — Two-Mile Flat, Mudgee. 

9. Molybdenite — Bullio Flat, near Goulbum. 

10. Rutile. 

11. Schorl and tourmaline — Murrumbidgee. 

JPseudomorpJis. 

That is, quartz possessing the external form of other minerals. 
Quartz after calcite — Gulgong, Yass, and Bathurst; also, often 
iron pyrites and mispickle. 

Amethyst. — ^A pale purple-coloured variety of quartz. It occurs 
as geodes in the basalt at Kiama ; the crystals are usually small, 
not being more than f of an inch through. Found also at Dubbo. 
A quartz vein containing amethystine quartz occurs near the top of 
Bullabalakit. 

Agate. — ^Agates consist of mixtures of crystalline quartz and 
chalcedony, usually arranged in concentric layers and bands ; their 
structure is caused by the peculiar mode of formation, viz., by the 
infiltration of silica into the amygdaloidal cavities of igneous rocks. 

They are common in the basalt at Kiama, near Scone, Inverell, 
and other places, and are very plentiful in the beds of many of the 
rivers and old drifts of New South Wales, as in the Mackintyre, 
parts of the Gwydir, the Hunter, the Cookaboo, where th^y are 
derived from the basalt of the Western Range or Dewingbong 
Mountain. 



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44 THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

Agates and chalcedony are plentiful near Dubbo and Bald Hill, 
Wellington, Mount Wingen, Maitland, Cowriga, and other places. 

Jasper, — Is very abundant and widely distributed throughout 
various parts of New South Wales. It is found of nearly all 
shades of colour — ^pure white, grey, slate, dull blue, olive and bright 
greens, brown, red, and black, both alone as simple colours, and in 
varied combinations of stripes, streaks, and bands and mottlings. 

It is found mainly in the form of boulders and pebbles in river 
beds, and it enters largely into the composition of nearly all 
conglomerates, gravelly alluvial deposits, and river drifts. 

The peculiar variety known as Egyptian jasper does not appear 
to have yet been met with. 

Amongst the principal localities are the Gwydir, the Mackintjrre, 
the Macquarie, Cudgegong, the Hunter, the Murrumbidgee, and 
many of their tributaries. There are large quantities of fine red 
jasper near Qobolion; also near Scone. The drifts at Mudgee, 
Bathurst, Bingera, Lake George, Molong, and other places are 
rich in fine jasper specimens. 

Mihhon Jasper, — ^At the junction of Pink's Creek with the Bell 
Biver a clay slate has been converted into ribbon jasper. 

JSisenkiesel. — ^A variety of ferruginous quartz. Large masses of 
this mineral in situ occur near Bingera ; it also abounds between 
Guano Hill and the Bell Biver, at Oarcoar, Mount Lindesay, and at 
the junction of Cotter's River with the Murrumbidgee. 

Lydian Stone, — ^A velvet black form of jasper, used by jewellers 
as a touchstone for gold alloys. Mullion Bange, Bathurst country. 

Ohert — Common in seams and bands throughout the coal 
measures. Its structure is often more or less lamellar, and the 
fracture conchoidal. Mount Victoria, Wallerawang, Hartley, 
Jamberoo, Illawarra, Lachlan Biver. 

Chalcedony, — ^An amorphous or crypto-crystalline form of quartz. 
There are several varieties of chalcedony. 

Chalcedony proper: Massive, translucent, pale-grey, blue, or 
brown ; with waxy lustre ; surface mammillated, and often of a 
stalactitic form. 

Nodules of chalcedony are found near Carcoar, with resinite and 
chert ; also at Cowriga Creek, Wellington, Dubbo, Maitland, the 
Hunter Biver, and filling lines of small cavities in a green felstone 
on Bat's Castle Creek, 6 miles S.E. of Two-mile Flat. 

Camelian : Is a bright red chalcedony, but the ornamental white 
varieties of chalcedony are also usually included under the same 
name by jewellers. 

Bed and white camelians are rather common in the Hunter 
Biver, or Maitland, and other places ; also, near Wellington ; in 
Pond Creek, near Inverell. 



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the minerals of new south wales. 45 

Opal. 

This mineral consists of silica, with usually from 5 to 12 per cent, 
in water. 

Precious or Nohh Opal: The precious opal of New South 
Wales has the milky body colour usually possessed by this mineral, 
and the same brilliant play of colours ; the dominant colours of 
the scintillations are metallic green, pink, and red. Some of the 
best specimens form, when polished, very fine gemnstones; but 
here as elsewhere the valuable specimens obtained bear but a 
small proportion to the whole. The best have been obtained 
from Bocky Bridge Creek, Abercrombie Biver ; the matrix is a 
fine-grained bluish-grey amygdaloidal trachyte, which is so much 
altered that it can be abraded by the thumb-nail ; the opal has 
filled by infiltration certain of the vesicular cavities and crevices 
in this rock ; it is associated with much common opal free from 
any play of colour. 

The appearance and mode of occurrence of the opal found at 
BuUa Creek, in Queensland, is very different ; the body colour of 
the Queensland opal is usually deep ultramarine blue or green, 
and the reflections are usually metallic green and red ; the matrix 
is in this case a brown mottled clay porphyry, in which the opal 
occurs as small veins and strings. 

Opal is also found in a similar clay porphyry in the Wellington 
District ; but up to the present I have only seen very small 
particles of the precious opal diffused through much valueless opal ; 
also occurs at Bland, near Forbes ; also at Coroo, with chalcedony, 
agates, kc. ; and at Bloomfield, near Orange. 

Fire Opal or Girasol — (i,e,) An opal with a red or orange tint- 
occurs at Wellington. But Httle valued. 

Common Opal, Semi-Opal, and Wood Opal : Are common in all 
the basaltic districts ; XJralla, Inverell, Bichmond Biver, Trunkey, 
Scone ; Hunter, and Castlereagh Bivers, Kiama, Lachlan Biver. 

Cacholong: Dead white; conchoidal fracture; adheres to tongue. 
Tumut. 

Hyalite : Muller's Glass. 

Found coating the joints in basalt, Jordan's Hill, Cudgegong ; 
of a blue colour at Ororal. 

8ilicijied Wood, — ^Is very abundant over nearly all the basaltic 
districts ; the two have always been observed in close proximity. 
It is very abundant abo throughout the coal measures. Large 
boulders of such fossilized wood are met with in most of the 
drifto and river deposits. 



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46 THE MINERALS OF KEW SOUTH WALES. 

Homblendd Group. 

Hornblende. — ^Amphibole. 

Chem. comp. : Silica, magnesia, lime, iron, manganese, ko. 
Oblique system. Different varieties of hornblende vary extremely 
in colour, form, and composition : — 

1. Tremolite, — A white or nearly white variety occurs, at 
Oooma, in long slender crystals. 

2. Actmolite, — ^A dark-green fibrous actinolite occurs at Mowem- 
bah in quartz. 

3. Sahliie, — Crystals of this form occur in a compact augite 
paste on the Cowriga Bivulet. 

Large crystals of common hornblende occur at XJralla, Tenter- 
field, and in New England district, and in other places. Li quartz 
with lamellar magnetite, at Merrendee, on the Meroo, a tributary 
of the Cudgegong ; and on the road from Jungemonia to Ilran- 
been ; also at Cooma. 

Asbestos. — ^Amianthus. 

Chem. comp. : Magnesium silicate. 

A fibrous variety of hornblende. 

Said to occur in veins at Bukulla, at Guyong, and Berrada 
Creek, Wellington. In basalt at the Pennant Hills, near Sydney. 
With auriferous quarts in diorite at Gulgong; also found at 
Wentworth, Lucknow Gold Field, Icely; Lewis Ponds Creek, 
Lachlan River. 

Pectolite 1 

Chem. comp. : Aluminium calcium and magnesium silicate. 
A light-grey and white fibrous mineral, very tough ; found at Mount 
Walker by Mr. Wilkinson, containing casts of spirifers. The rock 
has at the spot where this mineral occurs, been metamorphosed by 
the intrusion of a vein of igneous rock. 

Chlorite. — Green earth. 

Chem. comp. : Hydrous silicate of alumnia and magnesia, with 
more or less oxide of iron. 

Li a confused mass of various crystallized substances, Gulgong, 
Lachlan Kiver. 

De Lessite, — ^A ferruginous chlorite. Its occuixence is mentioned 
by the Rev. W. B. Clarke. 

Serpentine Group. 

There are several varieties of the mineral serpentine met with in 
New South Wales. The rock of the same name is also found very 
largely developed, both in the Northern, Western, and Southern 
districts. 



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THE HINSBAL8 OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 47 

Serpentine. 

Chem. comp. : Hydrous silicate of ma^esia. 

Of an oil-green colour, semi-transparent, on the Murrumbidgee ; 
at Bingera, Warialda, Barraba, and Stony Batta. 

WtUicmsite, — ^Apple-green, translucent, somewhat greasy to the 
touch, takes a very fair polish, and forms very pleasing ornamental 
stone. H. = 3. 

From Tuena. 

MarmoUte. — ^A foliated variety of serpentine, occurs on the 
Murrumbidgee, of a yellowish colour, associated with dull-red and 
green serpentine rock. 

The late Mr. Stutchbury mentions the occurrence of an orbicu- 
lar serpentine on the Apsley, Manning, and Hastings Bivers or 
Creeks. 

JPierolite. — Chem. comp. : Hydrous magnesium silicate. 

A fibrous variety of serpentine. Found at Kelly's Creek, 
Owydir Biver, and in the serpentine at Bingera, with meerschaum. 
It occurs also as a green striated mineral at Lucknow and Went- 
worth near Orange. 

Talc. 

Chem. comp. : Hydrous magnesium silicate. Hexagonal system. 

Occurs in the form of hexagonal crystals between Gudgeby 
Biver and Naas Valley, also about Bathurst. And from Junge- 
monia to XJranbeen with steatite and large hornblende crystals. 

Steatite, — ^A massive indurated form of talc or hydrous magne- 
alum silicate. 

Occurs in Banger's Valley, Severn Biver, at Elsmore, and the 
Bolitho Tin Mine, associated with tinstone. At Jungemonia and 
XJranbeen, Icely. 

Soapstone, Saponite, — ^Williams Biver, Icely. 

Agalmatolitef or Chinese Figure Stone — In chlorite schist. 
Nurembla, Callalia Creek. 

Meerschaum, — Chem. comp. : Magnesium silicate. Said to occur 
on the Bichmond Biver. Very doubtful. 

Angite Group. 

AUOITE. 

Pyroxene, — Chem. comp. : Silica, magnesia, iron, lime, &c. 
Oblique system. There are several varieties of olivine, which 
range from white or almost white to dark green, blacky and opaque 
minerals. . 



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48 THE MIKEBALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

Well-formed short columnar crystals of augite are not un- 
conmion. They are abundant at Newstead, Cameron's, and Middle 
Greeks; near Guntawang; Pretty's Plains, near Molong ; and near 
to the Pigeon House. At Bruno waterfall, Callallia Greek, with 
mesotype and arragonite ia a vesicular and amygdaloidal basalt, 
which rest upon columnar basalt. 

Smaragdite cpntaining native copper, occurs in a hard elvan 
porphyry at Molong Greek, and near to Dowagarang (the Old 
Man Ganobolas). 

DiALLAGE. 

Ghem. comp. : Galcium and magnesiiun silicate. Occurs in small 
bronze-green coloured crystals in the serpentine of Bingera, Wari- 
alda, and Kelly's Greek, Gwydir River, with chrome iron. The 
crystals are thin, and more or less brittle ; translucent. 

Hypersthene. 

Ghem. comp. : Galcium, magnesium, and iron silicate. Found 
near the Lagoons, west of Gulgong. 

Ghrysolite Peridot. — Olivine. 

Ghem. comp. : Magnesium silicate. Ehombic system. Transpa- 
rent bright green coloured specimens of chrysolite are common in 
most of the gold drifts. Found in the Shoalhaven and Hunter 
Bivers. Old Trigomon. Associated with the various gems in Gt. 
Mullen Greek, which falls into the Gudgegong ; abo at Two-mile 
Flat, Bingera, and other places. The exterior often has a white 
opaque enamel-like crust. 

Gem Stones. 

GORUNDUM. 

There are several forms of this substance — alumina. The blue 
is known as the sapphire, the green as the oriental emerald, the 
red as the ruby, the hair-brown as adamantine spar, the magenta- 
coloured as barklyite, and the common dark-coloured ones as 
corundum and emery. 

Sapphire. 

Ghem. comp. : Alumina, or aluminum sesquioxide. Hexagonal 
Efystem. The usual forms met with in New South Wales are 
double-sized pyramids, sometimes combined with the basal pninacoid 
or other pyramids ; the prism is less common. Perfect crystals 
are, however, rare, the majority of the specimens being either 
fractured or waterwom. Iliere appears to be no record of their 
having been found in situ* In certain cases it would appear from 
their ^arp and unworn edge that they had not travelled very far, 
H. = 9. Sp. gr. = 3-49 to 359. 



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THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 49 

The Kew South Wales sapphires, in common with those from 
other parts of Australia, are usually rather dark in colour ; they, 
however, are found varying from perfectly colourless and traiuk 
parent, through various shades of blue and green, to a dark and 
almost opaque blue. One or two green-coloured sapphires or 
oriental emeralds are almost always met with in every parcel of a 
hundred or so specimens, also blue and white particoloured. 

Asteria or Sapphires which show a six-rayed star of reflected 
light are by no means imcommon. 

Sapphires are almost invariably met with by the miners as an 
accompaniment of alluvial gold. 

They are widely distributed over the New England District, as 
at Bingera and near Inverell, with tin, adamantine spar, zircons, 
topaz, and bismuthite ; in Vegetable, Cope's and Nimdle Creeks, the 
Gwydir River, Dundee, XJralla, Ben Ijomond ; Mann's River, the 
Abercrombie, Namoi, Peel, and Cudgegong Rivers ; at Two-mile 
Flat; in Bell's River and Pink's Creek, with white topaz, almanden 
garnets, epidote, spinelle, chrysoberyl, chrysolite, hyacinth, etc. ; at 
Tumberumba, with tinstone and other nnnerals; also in the Shoal-' 
haven and Snowy Rivers. 

The late Dr. A. M. Thomson, Professor in the Sydney University, 
detected a variety peculiar to the Mudgee district, which occurs in 
uniformly small slightly barrel-shaped hexagonal crystals of about 
^in. long and ^^-in. diameter — opaque, and of a peculiar lavender 
colour. 

He made out the composition as follows : — 

AnaiifsU. 

Alumina 98*57 

Iron Sesquioxide 2*25 

Lime '45 



101-27 



H. = 9. Sp. gr.«3-59. 

Ruby, or Red Sapphire. 

This is much more rare than the blue gem. The late Mr. 
Stutchbury reports its occurrence with sapphire, chrysolite, hyaciuth, 
amethyst, and other gems in the Cudgegong between Eumbi and 
Bimbijong, and in Mullen's and Lawson's Creeks which fall into 
the Cudgegong. And the Rev. W. B. Clarke found it at Tumber- 
umba with similar gems. It is found too at Mudgee, but is not 
common, and usually of small size ; also from a small creek, about 



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50 THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

two miles from the head of the Hunter River. Dr. Thomson 
determined its composition, hardness, and specific gravity to be as 
follows : — 

Analffiis. 

Alumina 

Iron sesquinoxide- 



97-90 

1-39 

•63 

•52 


100-44 



Lime 



H. = 9. Sp.gr.«3-59. 

Barhhfite, — ^This name has been given in Victoria to the opaque 
magnesia-coloured variety. 

Adamantine Spar. 

Found at Two-mile Flat, Uralla, Bingara, Inverell. When cut 
and polished en cahochon this forms a very handsome ring stone. 

Emerald. — Beryl. 

Chem. comp. : Silica, aluminium and glucinium. Hexagonal 
system. 

The name emerald is usually reserved for the deep green 
coloured stones fit for jewellery, while the less beautiful and pale 
varieties are termed beryls. 

The emerald is said to occur mixed with granite detritus in 
Paradise Creek, and near Dundee. Also in gneissiform dykes on 
the summit of Moimt Tennant, and at Lanyon to the west of that 
mountain ; in the granite at Cooma, and in Mann's Biver with 
other gems. In some cases the beryl is probably meant. 

The beryl is much more common, it is found at Elsmore 
associated with quartz and crystals of tinstone. Tho beryl crystals, 
which are ofben very thin and ficagile, are seen interlaced with and 
seated upon tin crystals. 

At Ophir the beryl occurs in white felspar with quartz and 
white mica ; one crystal is f in. through, of a pale transparent 
yellow green colour and vitreous lustre. Sp. gr. = 2*708. 

A greenish coloured opaque beryl in small hexagonal prisms has 
been found in the Shoalhaven Biver east of Bungonia; the crystals 
are associated with mispickle, and in some cases they penetrate it. 

Chrysobkryl. — Cymophane. 

GheiKL eomp. : Glucinum aluminate. Biiombic system. 
The late A&. Stutchbury mentions that he found a fragment of 
this g^n in the Macquarie Biver. 



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THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 51 

Zircon, Hyacmth, Jargoon. 

Chem. comp. Zirconium silicate. Pyramidal system. 

The transparent red varities are known as hyacinths, the smoky 
jargoon ; wlule the grey, brown, etc., are known as zircons. 

This mineral is found in granite on the Mitta Mitta, and on the 
Moama Kiver, some 4 miles west of Jillamalong Hill. 

Zircons are very common in the auriferous river sands and 
drifts, as at XJralla, Bingera, Two-mile Flat, the Cudgegong, MaC- 
quarie, Abercrombie, Shoalhaven, and other rivers. 

They are of course usually more or less rolled, but occasionally 
the crystalline form is well preserved ; they vary much in colour, 
from more or less colourless and transparent through pale-red to 
crimson, brown, and opaque ; they are also found of a clear trans- 
parent green, but these are rarer than the others. 

Topaz. 

Chem. comp. : Aluminium, silica and fluorine. Rhombic system. 
Occasionally met with in well-formed columnar crystals capped 
with planes of numerous pyramids. The best-formed crystals 
are usually perfectly clear, colourless, and transparent. Some 
very large crystals have been met with; a portion of a large bluish 
green-coloured crystal found at Mudgee, and now in the Melbourne 
Technological Museum, weighs several pounds; and others weighing 
several ounces are by no means rare ; they are sometimes 2 to 3 
inches long and broad in proportion, especially those from XJralla. 

The pale bluish-green tint is the most common colour, some- 
times diey are slightly yellow. 

It is comparatively abimdant all over the granite region of New 
England; it occurs associated with tinstone in veins traversing the 
eurite and greisen granites near Elsmore and other parts; some of 
the small crystals found with the tin ore are beautifully developed. 

Found also at Bingera, Two-mile Flat, Bathurst ; Bell River, 
also Macquarie, Abercrombie, Shoalhaven, and Lachlan Rivers. 

Spinelle. — Spinel Ruby. 

Chem. comp. : Magnesium aluminate. Cubical system. Small 
well-formed octahedra are by no means rare ; the colour varies from 
pale brown, red, deep crimson, green, to black (pleonaste). 

It is found in most river deposits containing gold, as in the 
sands of the Severn and its tributaries, at Uralla, Bingera, Two- 
mile Flat, Bathurst, Macquarie, and Cudgegong Rivers. 

Pleonaste, — Fairly well-formed large crystals of pleonaste with 
well-marked conchoidal fracture are found in the Lachlan River. 
One fairly well-formed octohedron, from the Muntabilli River, 
Monaro district, was remarkable for its channelled faces. 



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52 THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

The amorphous black vesicular pleonaste occurring on the 
Mudgee Diamond Fields was examined by the late Dr. A. M. 
Thomson ; he found it to have the following composition : — 

Silica and undecomposed 2*75 

Alumina ... 

Sesquioxide of chromium . . . 

Magnesia... 

Protoxide of iron 

98-10 

Sp. gr. = 3-77. 

The colour is dull black, the surface vesicular; no cleavage, but 
a highly lustrous well-marked conchoidal fracture ; streak, grey. 

Anhydrous Silicates, 

Kyanite. — Disthene. 

Chemical composition : Aluminium silicate. Anorthic S3rstem. 
Occurs near to Kangaloolah, an arm of Tuena Creek some 10 miles 
south of Tuena. In colour it is nearly white, the lustre pearly, in 
slender flattened brittle crystals. 

Stauralite. 

Chemical composition : Aluminium silicate. Rhombic system. 
Occ\irs in a talcose schist near Bathurst, in the form of small 
brown prismatic crystals. 

Andalusite. 

Chemical composition : Aluminium silicate. Bhombic system. A 
vein of mineral crystallized in rhombic prisms of a pinkish-grey 
colour occurs in the slate rock to the east of Bungonia. The 
cleavage is well marked parallel to the o.p. plane; the planes of the 
prism have a vitreous lustre, but the terminal planes are dulL I 
hope to have a quantitative analysis of this very interesting mineral 
finished shortly. 

Chiastolite (Andalusite variety of). — Chemical composition. 
Aluminium silicate ; rhombic system. Occurs in granite rock, at 
Amprior, Boro (Goulbum), and in small crystals in the slate near 
Modbury, Shoalhaven. 

Epidote. 

Chem. Comp. Silica, aluminia, lime, iron, efc. : Dblique system. 

Occasionally well-developed columnar crjnstals have been met 
with, but I have seen none of large sizo— -also massive. Usually 
various shades of green. 



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THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 53 

Found in the Murrumbidgee district, near Mount Tennant ; also 
at Bundian, with glassy felspar and quartz below ; the Windin- 
dingerie Cataract ; at Gedgedzerick; betwe^ Jingerj, Bobbera, and 
Pamb\ila ; at Bibinluke, and the " Gap" Lewis Ponds ; the Shoal- 
haven Biver ; also to the east of Bungonia ; Gulgong; Bathurst ; and 
in the bed of the Gwydir River, and the Ora Ora. 

Garnet. 

ChenL Comp, : There are several kinds of garnet and they vary 
in composition, but the most common are silicates of alumina, 
lime, iron, manganese, and other bases. 

Cubical system : The rhombic dodecahedron and the icositetra- 
hedron being the most common. 

It is the sdumina-lime or common garnet which is most generally 
met with, especially in the granite ranges, as at Hartley ; it is 
found also at Bingera, at Ponds Creek, and other places near 
Inverell, at TJralla, ia a talc schist at Bathurst, Washpool Creek, 
near Solferino; Trunkey Creek, Abercrombie River, Coombing 
Creek Copper Mine, with hyacinth and gold on the Old Trigomon, 
Moama River, 4 miles west of Jillamalong Hill ; at Hardwicke, 
near Tass. 

A dark greenish-brown garnet occurs in large quantities, with 
magnetic iron ore, at Wallerawang, well crystallized in rhombic 
dodecahedra, which contains 21*05 per cent, of metallic iron. 

Tourmaline. — Schorl. 

Chem. comp. : Very complex, but mainly composed of silicate 
of alumina, iron, lime, soda, &c., with usually some 3 or 4 per cent. 
of boracic acid; other substances such as lithia are often present. 

Crystallizes in the hexagonal system, usually in the form of 
prisms having a more or less triangular section, and strongly 
striated parallel to the principal axis. Large prisms are met with 
in the New England district, and also in the Murrumbidgee. 
When the crystals are small and more or less aggregated together 
into bundles, the mineral is termed schorl ; the form of it is com- 
mon in the granite of New England in the tin district. 

Large crystals are found in the South with pegmatite between 
Mowwat and Burramungee; with tremolite at Jejedzeric in 
granite. 

It is also commonly found associated with gold, diamonds, and 
other gems in drifts and river deposits, more or less rolled; 
at times all trace of the original crystallized form is removed. 

Hica« 

Muscovite, or Potash Mica. 
Chem. comp. : Ali^Tnininm and potassium silicate. Oblique 
system. 



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54 THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

Large tabular crystals of mica are met with in the coarse- 
grained granite of the Bathurst District, as at Broadwater and other 
places on the Macquari^e River, and at Cooma and Wheeo; crystals 
of a golden-coloured mica are also obtained from the same place, 
and at Orange with crystals of felspar in a pink-coloured granite. 

Green mica is common in the granite of New England; die mica 
enterihg into the composition of the greisen at Elsmore, and New- 
stead, and other places is green. Green mica also occurs in the 
granite of Tarramgun and Ororal. 

In the Naas Valley mica is found in large crystals, associated 
with quiartz, felspar, hornblende, tourmaline, and chlorite. 

A mammillated bright golden-coloured mica is found in white 
quartz at Kiandra ; this has very much the appearance of rolled 
gold, for which in fact it has been mistaken ; yellow mica also 
occurs in Frazer's Creek. 

A bright-coloured mica with silvery lustre is met with in a 
manganiferous cement at Buckley's Lead, Two-mile Flat. 

Lu^ge groups of beautiful plumose crystals of mica occur at Oura 
Station, Wagga Wagga. 

Felspars. 

Orthoclase. — Common Felspar. 

Chemical composition : Aluminium and potassium silicate. 
Oblique system. There are several varieties of this mineral: 
Common JPklspar includes all the common non-transparent varieties ; 
adularia^ the sub-transparent forms ; opalescent adularia is termed 
moonstone; and glassy feUpar ; or ice spar comprises the clear and 
transparent forms. 

Fine well-formed crystals of felspar are almost unknown here, 
although £sdrly laige and moderately well-developed crystals are 
not uncommon in the coarse ground granites of the New England, 
Bathurst, and Southern districts. Simple and compound crystals 
of an inch or so in length, exposed by weathering, are common in 
the granite of New England. Dark grey felspar at Mount Walker. 
Medium sized crystals of glassy felspar are reported at Benada 
Creek, also near Naas, and with quartz at Lanyon to the west of 
Mount Tennant. Again near " ThQ Pass" Bundian. With mica 
chlorite and quartz at Windindingerrie Cataract Adcular crystals 
of glassy felspar occur in compact felspar at Mount Wingen 
near the burning part 

Crystallized ^ularia felspar is plentiful on Mount Lindesay. 

Albite. 

Chem. Comp. : Aluminium, sodium, and potassium silicates 
Doubly oblique system. 



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THE MINERALS OF KEW SOUTH WALES. 55 

Occurs in the form of white crystals and massive in New 
England, near Bingera, also in one or two places near Gulgong, 
where in one place it is said to be found in association with caldte 
opal, asbestos, epidote, sphoerosiderite, mispickle, blende, galena, 
pyrites, and copper pyrites in an auriferous vein traversing a 
diorite. It occurs crystallized with translucent quartz at Mount 
Dixon, Bewelamble, Murrumbidgee, and with quartz, chlorite, and 
green mica on the Coolalamine Plain and at the head of the 
Tarralumla. 

Nepheline. 

Chem. Comp. : Aluminium, sodium, and potassium silicate. 

Hexagonal system. Occurs in amygdaloidal porphyry between 
the " Pinnacle,'' Dowagarang, and the Old Man Canobolas, near 
Wellington. 

Spodumene. 

Chem. Comp. : Aluminium and lithium silicate. Oblique. 
Mr. Wilkinson reports its probable occurrence at Oura Station, 
near Wagga Wagga. 

Hauyute. 

Chem. comp. : Silica, alumina, soda, lime, and sulphuric acid. 
Cubical system. 

The Rev. W. B. Clarke discovered some small specimens of a 
blue-coloured mineral which he believed to be hauyne, below the 
Windindingerie Cataract, in association with flesh-coloured 
felspar, adularia, quartz, and epidote. 

Hydrous Silicates- 

Clays. 

Kaolin, or China Clay. 

Is derived from the decomposition of felspar, and is not uncom- 
mon in many parts of the Colony. A deposit of kaolin suitable 
for the manufacture of the best porcelain is reported to occur 
at Lambing Flat, King's PMns, and another of a dazzling white 
colour on a hill near to Kocky Badge, which is in association with 
a bright and pretty coloured lavender clay derived from decomposed 
basalt. 

Fire Clays. 

Of good quality are common throughout the coal measures; 
and in the shales, daystone nodules which would probably yield 
high-class cement are plentiful. 

Brick days.—Jjarge deposits of clay, which bum to red, white, 
and intermeaiate colours, are common in the County of Cumber- 
land, derived frt)m the disintegration of the Wianamatta shale. 



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56 the minerals of new south wales. 

Hallotsite. 

Chem. comp. : Hydrous silicate of altunina. 

This is an amorphous earthy mineral^ resembling steatite, derived 
from the decomposition of igneous rocks. Adheres to the tongue, 
can be scratched and polished by the nail ; of various colours — 
black, brown, grey, green, and red ; the black often contains small 
brilliant white veins. When placed in water the mineral usually 
DeJIs to pieces, and the edges become translucent. 

Specimens of black halloysite are from time to time brought 
from all parts of the Colony as samples of graphite. 

Occurs in railway cutting through decomposed basalt containing 
chabasite at Eeedy and Stony Creeks, Sutton Forest; at Two- 
mile flat of a pretty green colour ; Carcoar and Lachlan Biver. 

Zeolites. 

This group of minerals is distinguished by the property which 
most of them possess of fusing with intumescence before the blow- 
pipe, i.e., they boil up, the name being derived from ^rf<a, to boil, 
and At^os, a stone. The are usually found filling the amygdaloidal 
cavities and crevices in igneous rocks, and never as crystals 
disseminated through the mass of the rock like pyrites, garnet, or 
mica. In chemical composition they consist essentially of com- 
pound silicates of alumina, the alksJine earths and alkaUs ; and 
when treated with acids gelatinous silica is separated. 

Stilbite. 

Chemu comp. : Hydrous silicate of alumina and lime. Hhombic 
systemu Beported to occur in metamorphic silurian shales at 
Adelong. 

Laumonite. 

Chem. comp. : Hydrous silicate of alumina and lime. Oblique 
system. This mineral occurs in the form of white crumbly pris- 
matic crystals in association with black and white particoloured 
calcite crystals in the cavities of ah amygdaloidal rock on the 
road between Geringong and Kiama. 

There is a pink mineral in slate on the Mudgee Koad, found by 
Mr. Wilkinson, which is probably a laumonite. (For further 
particulars see Beport upon New South Wales, part I., p 20.) On 
analysis this min^al yielded the following results : — 

Silica 63-266 

Alumina, and trace of iron oxide ... 22*833 

lame ... 11-000 

Water of combination 1 2 -646 



Spedfic gravity, between 2^3 100>224 



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THE MINERALS OF NSW SOUTH WALES. 67 

It also oocurs as a white powdery mineral in asofb grey-coloured 
amygdaloidal trachytic rock at Myalla. This mineral may at once 
be recognized j&om its readiness to undergo decomposition. 

Mesotyps. 

Chem. comp. : Hydrous silicate of alumina and soda. Found in 
amygdaloidal basalt. Locality (1) 

Scolezite. 

Same chem. comp. as the above. Shombic system. This 
mineral is found with cylindrical masses of bitter spar in a 
basalt, Emu Greek, Kew England. It is distinguished by curling 
up like a worm before the blowpipe, — Whence the name, from 
CKnokri^f a worm. 

Akaloike, or Cubical Zeolite. 

Chem. comp. : Hydrous silicate of alumina and soda. Cubical 
system. Occurs at InverelL 

Chabasite. 

Chem. comp. : Hydrous silicate of alumina, lime, and potash ; 
Hexagonal system : commonly assumes rhombohedral forms. 
This is perhaps the most abundant of the New South Wales 
zeolites, and the crystals are often very well developed. It 
occurs in basalt with delessite at Musclebrook. And in well- 
formed rhombohedra in trachyte on the Lachlan Elver ; also in an 
amygdaloidal basalt at Beedy Creek, Sutton Forest ; with calcite 
in a similar rock at Coroo. It also occurs in the cavities of a puce- 
coloured rock at Fountain Head in simple rhombohedral crystals 
of a wax-yellow colour, and is associated with a bright orange- 
ooloured powdery mineral and a grey-green steatitic substance ; 
the matrix can be readily cut with a knife, and leaves a shiny 
streak. 

It is also reported from the Talbragar and Abercrombie Elvers, 
and is present in the basalt of the Blawarra district 

Hebschelite. 

This is probably only a variety of gmelinite, one of the chabasite 
group, and occurs with calcite and analdme, dystallized in double 
hexagonal pyn^ds at Inverell. 

Pbehnite. 

Chemical Composition : Hydrous silicate of alumina and lime. 
Ehombic system. Occurs at Emu Creek, Kew England, of a green 
colour ; and in association with orthoclase felspar and copper ores, 
at Eeedy Cre^k^ Molong: 



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58 THS MIinBBALS OF NEW SOUTH WALBS. 

List of Minerals mentioned in the foregoing Paper :-:- 

Actinolite 46 

Adamantine Spar 50 

Adularia 64 

Agalmatolite 47 

A«ato ^ 48 

Albite 54 

Alum : 41 

Amethyst 43 

AmianthHS 46 

Amphibole :. 46 

Analcime 57 

Anatase 28 

Andalusite 5a 

Anglesito 24 

Annydrons Silicates « 52 

Anthracite 35 

Antimonite 29 

Antimony, Natire 29 

Antimony Oxide 80 

Antimomal Copper Ore 17 

Antimony Sulphide 29 

Apatite 40 

Argentite, Silrer Sulphide 12 

Arragonite 88 

Arsenic, Natire 29 

Arsenical Pyrites 29 

Asbestus 46 

Asteria 49 

Agalmatolite 47 

Atacamite 16 

Augite • 47 

Azurite 16 

Barklyite 50 

BaiTtes 88 

Bellmetal Ore 17 

Beryl 60 

Bismuth, Natire ^ 80 

Bismuthite , 30 

Bitumen, Elastic 36 

Blende 23 

Bog-butter 86 

Bog Iron Ore, Limonite 20 

Bornite 17 

Brick OUy 55 

Brookite 28 

Brown Coal, Lignite 35 

Cacholong 45 

Oairagorum " 42 

Oaldte 39 

Oamelian 44 

Oassiterite 26 

Oerussite 24 

Oervantite 30 

Chabasite 57. 



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THB MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



59 



PAOI. 

Chalcedony 44 

Chalcopjritefl 17 

Chalcotriohite » 14 

Chalybite 20 

Chert 44 

Chiastolite 62 

Chlorite 46 

Chromite, Chrome Iron 21 

Chiysoberyl 60 

Chrysooolla 16 

Ohryiolite 48 

Cinnabar '. 18 

Clays 66 

Coal, Common 83 

„ Brown, Lignite 86 

„ Cannel 88 

„ Anthracite ; ;... 86 

Cobalt, Oxide 23 

Condurrite 16 

Copper, Natire 13 

„ Black Oxide, Tenorite 14 

„ Bed Oxide, Cnprite 14 

„ Chloride, Atacamite 16 

„ Blue Carbonate, Chessylite 16 

„ Green Carbonate, Malachite 14 

„ Gh*ey Sulphide, Copper Q-lance 16 

„ Pyrites 17 

„ Purple, Bomite 16 

Copper-nickel 22 

Corundum 48 

Cuprite 14 

Cyanite, Eyanite 62 

Cymophane 50 

Delessite 46 

Diallage 48 

Diamond 31 

Disthene ,• 62 

Domeykite 17 

Earthy Minerals 88 

Eisenkiesel 44 

Elaterite 86 

Emerald 50 

Emery 48 

Epidote 52 

Epsomite 41 

Fahlerz 16 

Felspar, Common 64 

Ghissy 54 

Figure-stone 47 

Fire-clay 55 

Flos-ferri 38 

Fluor-spar 40 

Galena 26 

Garnet 53 

Gems : ;.: 48 

Girasol : 45 



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60 THE MINERAL8 OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

FAOE. 

GJ-melinite 57 

Gold 2 

„ Nuggets 2 

„ Silver, &e., in 5 

„ Vein... 9 

„ Assooiations 9 

„ Distribution 10 

,1 Amountof 10 

„ DiscoTery 10 

Odetheite 19 

Graphite 83 

Green Earth 46 

Gypsum 38 

Hjematite , 18 

HaUoysite 66 

Hauyne 55 

Heavy-BP" • 38 

Herschelite 67 

Hornblende 46 

Hyacinth 51 

Hyalite 45 

Hydrous Silicates 65 

Hypersthene 48 

Ice-spar 54 

Iceland-spar 39 

Ilmenite 21 

Iridium 13 

Iron, Natire 17 

„ Brown Hematite 19 

„ Carbonate 20 

„ Chromate 21 

„ Limonite 20 

„ Pharmacosiderite 21 

„ Pho8phat>e 

„ Magnetic pyrites, Pyrrhotine 22 

„ Pyntes ^ 22 

„ Scorodite 21 

„ Spathic -r 20 

„ Specular 18 

„ Sulphide 22 

„ Titaniferous 21 

Iron-ores 17 

„ Brown 19 

„ Magnetic 18 

Iserine 21 

Jamesonite '....... 30 

Jargoon 51 

Jasper 44 

„ Bibbon 44 

Jet ; 37 

Kampylite 24 

Kaolm 65 

Kerosene Shale 36 

Kupfemickel 22 

Eupfermanganerx 23 

Kyanite ....;* **...** » ; .;. ;....;;..;...!;..... 62 



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THS MIXERALS OF NSW SOUTH WALES. 61 

FAOl. 

Lanmonite ^ 

Lead, Natire 24 

„ Aneniate 24 

„ Carbonate 1 24 

„ Molybdate 24 

„ Oxide, Bed Lead 24 

„ Phosphate 24 

„ Sulphate 24 

„ Sulphide, Glance 26 

Lignite 86 

Lime, Carbonate 98 

„ Phosphate 40 

„ Sulphate 38 

LrdianBtone 44 

Magnesia, Carbonate 41 

„ Sulphate 41 

Magnesite 18 

Magnetite 41 

Magnetic Pyrites 22 

Malachite 14 

Bfanganese 23 

Marble ; 39 

Marcassite 22 

Marmolite 47 

Meerschaum 47 

Melaconite, Tenorite ^ 14 

' Menaccanite 21 

Mercury, Native 13 

„ Sulphide, Cinnabar 13 

Mesotype 57 

Mica 53 

Mineral Wax 36 

Mimetite 24 

Minium 24 

MispicUe 29 

Molybdenite 28 

Moonstone 64 

Muller's Glass, HyaUte 46 

MusooTite 68 

Natron 38 

Nepheline 65 

Nickel, Arsenides 22 

Nigrine 21 

OliTenite 16 

Olivine 48 

Oolitic Limestone « < 40 

Opal - 46 

Orthoclase 64 

Osmo-iridium ^ • 13 

Oaokerite 36 

PectoUte 46 

Peridot , 48 

Pharmakosiderite 21 

Phosphocaloite 16 

PicTolite 47 

Plakodine 22 



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62 THE MINERALS OF NEW SOUTH'^WALES. 

PAas. 

PlAtinum 13 

Fleonaste 61 

Plumbago 83 

Porcelain Clay, Kaolin 55 

Prehnite 57 

Pyrites, Iron 22 

„ Marcassite 22 

„ Magnetic , 22 

Pyromorphite 24 

Pyroxene 47 

Pyrrhotine 22 

Quartz 42 

QuicksilTor, tnde "MLerawrj 13 

Bedruthite 16 

Besinite 86 

Rock-crystal 42 

Buby, Oriental 49 

„ Spinelle 51 

ButUe 27 

Sahlite 46 

Salt, Common 88 

Saponite 47 

Sapphire 48 

Scheelite...*. 28 

Schorl 53 

Scolezite, Skolezite 67 

Scorodlte 21 

Selenite 88 

Serpentine 47 

Shale, Kerosene 86 

Siderite 20 

Silica 42 

Silicified Wood 45 

Silrer, Native 12 ' 

„ Antimonial 18 

„ Sulphide 12 

Smaragdite 48 

Soapstone 47 

Soda, Carbonate 38 

Sodium Chloride 38 ' 

Specular Iron Ore 18 

SphsBrosiderite 20 

Sphene 28 

Spinelle 51 

Spodumene 56 

Staurolite 52 

Steatite 47 

Stilbite 66 

Strontianite ^ 40 

Sulphur : 38 

Talc 47 

Tellurium, Native 29 

Tenorite 14 

Tetrahedrite 16 

Tin-ore : :....: 25 

Titanium ...: :..;.; : : 27 

Topaz ; 61 



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THB MINERALS OF N£W SOUTH WALES. 63 

PAGE. 

Torbftnite 36 

Tourmaline 53 

Trayertine, Fresh- water Limestone 39 

Tremolite 4i& 

Tungsten 28 

Wad .- 23 

Warellite 40 

Websterite 42 

Williamsite 47 

Wolfipam 28 

Wood Opal 46 

Wulfenite 24 

Zeolites 66 

Zinc-blende 23 

Zircon j 60 



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